Florida Has Lots of Creepy-Crawlies
The warm and nice weather in the Sunshine State is the perfect environment for seniors but also for many creepy and irritating pests and insects. Besides sending shivers down your spine they can also send your money out the window.
Take termites, for example. These tiny, wood-eating insects have become common residents of Florida homes. As a matter of fact, dealing with termites has become such a routine in Florida, that the state has reached number four of the 15 U.S. cities with the most termites in 2018, after Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.
“Because there is no real winter season in most of Florida, termite treatments or a termite program can be valuable for homes made of wood,” says Perry. A termite inspection can be free or reach up to $350, while the cost for termite treatment in a 2,500-square-foot house starts from $1,250 to $5,000.
Then, there are the rats, literally everywhere… on the beach, around your house, in your house and even in trees or on roofs, thus the name palm rats and roof rats. “Rats on the beach were a tough adjustment,” adds Elliott. “I pay $300 a year for rat control. No regrets on that expenditure. Haven’t had any rats since the first year here.”
Next on our list: alligators, panthers, and pythons. There are roughly 1.25 million alligators in Florida, of the approximately five million in the U.S., which means you have pretty high chances of meeting one slinking across a golf course or in your backyard swimming pool.
2 thoughts on “8 Things You Should Know Before Retiring to Florida”
Which city or town in Florida has the most job opportunities with good salaries?
I relocated from Indiana to SW Florida 2 years ago because of the nicer weather year round, but I have decided to leave the state for many reasons:
1. Summers are HOT and living indoors with AC is a must! People may venture out at night if it’s cool enough.
2. Hurricanes are horrible!
3. Property taxes are outrageous!
4 Home owners and vehicle insurance is extremely high.
5. Healthcare is 10 years behind the North and good luck finding a physician! Also, I work in healthcare and pay is much less in FL.
6. Traffic is terrible and drivers do not obey the laws, especially speeding and blatantly running red lights.
7. People are just plain RUDE!
8. The area is dirty, trash along the roads, etc
9. For those who are older and retired and living in SW Florida, if you are in need of elder care,be prepared to pay heavily for nursing home care in poorly staffed facilities. I suggest that you have family members check on your care often and advocate for you.