Common bug problems in Southside homes for sale in Chicago

Are you looking for great rehab homes for sale in Southside Chicago? Windy City Cash Buyers has distressed Chicago southside homes for sale. We have been in the business of selling distressed, vacant, and neglected homes to Chicago rehabbers looking for handyman specials and great fixer uppers. 

But, when rehabbing homes in Southside Chicago it is just as important to understand the strengths of your neglected property as it is to understand existing and current trouble spots. Chicago distressed homes exposed to extreme temperatures battle cracked wood siding, roof leaks, and cracked foundations. However, one of the most common problems you need to mitigate are common bug problems in Southside homes for sale in Chicago. 

Many bug problems are obvious, while others are hidden beneath floorboards, in walls, and hidden behind antique built-ins. 

Here are 3 common bug problems in Southside homes for sale in Chicago.

Bed Bugs

Many people when buying a home for sale in Chicago’s Southside neighborhoods don’t think about bed bugs. After all, bed bugs are found in fabric and linens. However, rehabbers flipping houses for profit are often bought as-is, meaning that bags of clothing, furniture, drapery, and other items prone to bed bug infestation are left behind. Another common misconception is that bed bugs will only survive on your furniture of clothes. The truth is that while bed bugs will not burrow into wood, they can thrive in wood cracks that you can find in floor boards, molding, window and door frames. As long as there is a host available and a place to hide bed bugs can infest your distressed home. 

Ants

We all know the problem that ants can cause in a vacant Chicago home. This is especially so if the previous homeowners left scraps of food behind. But, nuisance is not the only issue that ants cause in a home. Carpenter ants will burrow into your home’s wood and even loose and crumbling cement causing significant damage that isn’t always to see from a cursory walk-through. Carpenter ants are drawn to the cool, moist areas inside of homes such as in bathrooms, under our kitchen sinks, in crawl spaces, and other damp areas. If your home has moisture issues or damage caused by water, carpern ants will take advantage of it. Since they target decayed wood first, older Southside homes for sale are a big target. 

Termites

Three types of termites swarm in Southside Chicago homes from March to October. Similar to carpenter ants, termites need moisture. They create subterranean tunnels from their nest into the homes feeding on the moist and decayed wood within interior walls. This process can cause significant damage if gone unseen. One helpful way to inspect a home is the simple tap test. Tap on walls as you walk through the home and listen for hollow taps which could indicate termites in Chicago Southside homes for sale. 

For most rehabbers, bug infestations in distressed southside homes for sale is a minor concern. However, if you are doing a quick fix and flip of Southside Chicago homes then paying attention to bug mitigation is important. 

Windy City Cash Buyers is a fast cash home buyer in Chicago, IL specializing in buying and selling distressed and vacant properties in Chicago’s Southside and Westside neighborhoods like Englewood, South Chicago, Roseland, and more.