roach motels

I manage a number of properties in the city and although most are in modern buildings with good pest control, there are a few in older buildings.
For modern we would cling film the toilet bowl, shower and drains in the bathroom, cling film the sink by covering the hole plus a generous margin with film, then set a small bag of sand on top, creates an air and bug seal.
Don't forget the overflow.

For older buildings it's basically the same except that we may apply a roach cream. Powders and sprays are useless after a short term, glue boards are used by pest controllers to confirm the presence of bugs, they won't catch 1% of what is there.

There is a long lasting cream available in a small white toothpaste-like tube from Home Pro etc.
Can't remember the name but it's the only thing in that format in the bug section. It works by poisoning the roaches with a slow acting poison, they go back to the nest, die and are eaten by the other roaches passing on the effect.

 

Obviously check the place for ANY food or disregarded snacks.

 

In the west I would have normally advised people to not turn water supplies off because it causes leaks of dried out expanding/contracting washers, however this is Thailand and the quality of fittings compared to the west is terrible, burst fittings are a big problem here, so turn the water off as well.

 

23 hours ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

If i was leaving a property for 4 months,and as you said,empty and deserted,the other type of vermin i would be concerned about would be the two legged kind.Especially if the security in your block has loose lips.

good luck.

 

 

A 3000 thb IP cam and he can check the condo from anywhere in the world.

What i am saying is,that you can have as many camera's in the property as you can get.But today's thieves have learned a bit,and if they are sensible they will all be wearing hoodies or other ways to mask up.I am sure that will comfort the owner if he is in say Europe or USA,or where ever.He would have the pleasure of watching his place get screwed and cannot do a thing about it.I dont think the cost of the camera matters then.On the other hand,it is not unknown for management to have copies of keys,or bent security guards getting copies and selling them for a price.

Anybody who has lived here for some time,knows that nothing is 100% percent secure.Lets face it.It has happened.

22 hours ago, dansbkk said:

Buy a bag of sand at your local home supply store or florist.  Fill up several plastic bags about half way.  Seal the top of the bag and place over the drains, especially the floor drains.  They create a nice seal.

Before you place the bags, pour about a cup of bleach into each drain.

Use that cling wrap over the toilet bowl, put a cup of bleach in first and be sure to lower the seat cover. Helps to keep the bigger vermin from crawling out. I had a place in Florida that used to get rats if left untended.  The bleach and cling wrap kept them from crawling up and in.

 

I find all insects hate the smell of bleach and it keeps roaches out of my bathroom. But I dunno about 4 months though, It might not evaporate if you put it in a tall narrow container.

 

That chalk stuff they sell in Friendship for 20 baht also works wonders