Jana, I agree and we are having the same problem in Florida. I have a short sale that has no electric and the pool is now pond scum. I have dumped chlorine in but as the listing agent, the owner isn't paying anything and the bank doesn't own it yet. When they take it over, if they don't accept the offer on it, are you suggesting that there is someone to pay for the maintenance on the pool. The bank won't at this point, the owner could care less, and I may make nothing on the sale if it goes to foreclosure, so I have forked out my last dollar on trying to maintain the pool. It would be cheaper to buy a bug zapper and kill them as they emerged but wait there is no electric!

So if we had a number to call, I am not sure there is a solution.

We don't have too many houses with the standing water problem.  Some areas north of us do have the problem though and spray regularly.

What will those Agencies do if they are called about a particular property?  I can't imagine that the banks are happy to hear from them?

Our issue is overgrown yards, etc. that no one is maintaining.  With all the rain we've had the grass and weeds are overtaking some homes.  You don't know WHAT may be hiding in there!  

With so many homes in this situation, it's impossible to keep up with general maintenance.  

So true Jana Baby, so true! The pools of course should be drained.

I showed a palatial  M+ house on the river recently with a gorgeous riverfront pool in a really unattractive shade of green.

Really scary when the river is already a breeding ground for mosquitos . . .

Jana,

Great post! West Nile is active again in our area as well and we are again finding dead birds in the streets, especially crows. Since the state has mandated banks maintain their properties, hopefully this will minimize the problem. I will spread the Vector Control word in our office to remind our agents not to forget to report the green slime.

Gail

Jana, It's a big problem in Central Florida as well.  One REO I showed recently had placed locks on the outside screened doors leading to the pool, presumably to keep children from entering and potentially falling in.  The pool was disgusting!!! I find it ludicrous that the banks don't (aren't made to) maintain these properties. This house is worth every penny of $275,000 and I see it went contingent with a final list price of $179,900.  We're all going to pay for this!!!  BTW, the listing agent told me not to bring in any offer much less than the then list price of $212,000 - that was a week and a half ago.  What a freaking mess!

Can they drain the pools?

I guess they could drain the pools, but that would take A LOT of mosquitoes, Gloria.

Okay all, here is a solution to the mosquito problem in pools and spas. Like Jana said, it won't take care of the green, but it will take care of the disease-carrying bugs. Go to your local pest control company and ask for BTI Briquettes. They come in a pack of 20 (the particular brand I'm talking about is made by Summit Chemicals in Baltimore, MD). One donut shaped brick will disolve and stay on the surface of the water and covers 100sf (depth does not matter). Because it stays on the surface, mosquitos cannot breed there. The cost is minimal - the pack is $25 here - small price to pay to protect ourselves from disease.

Because it's available in CA, it's likely available everywhere (CA has strict chemical regulations for pesticides).

How do I know this? Chris has 15 years experience in the pest control field.

Good luck!

Janet Gaut

Thank you Janet!