Now that summer is almost over, it's time to start thinking about autumn. If you haven't gotten started on a good pest control plan, now's the time to do that. A lot can change between summer and fall. The drop in temperature can bring pests right into your home. This is especially true where mice are concerned. Mice want to find a warm place to stay for the winter. So, they'll start looking for good locations as soon as the temperatures start to dip. 

That's usually around the first part of autumn. If you don't get a head start on the control methods, you can end up with a full-blown infestation. Once you have an infestation, the mice can be difficult to get rid of. That's where the list below comes in handy. Here are four steps to help you get ready for the autumn invasion of the mice. 

Start With a Home Inspection 

If you want to get a head start on your mice control efforts, start with a thorough home inspection. You want to find all the places where mice could take shelter from the cold. You also want to find all the access points. Those are the places around your property that mice can use to gain access to your home. Once you have a good idea of where the problem areas are, you can take action. Make sure you seal off any areas that mice could use to get into your home. For instance, seal cracks in the stucco, or along the foundation of your home. 

Eliminate the Hiding Spaces

Once you've completed the home inspection, you'll want to eliminate any hiding places you might have found. This can include closets that have blankets and clothing on the floor. These spaces can provide nesting areas for mice. If you're using cardboard boxes for storage, switch to hard plastic storage boxes. Mice chew through cardboard for nesting material. Luckily, mice can't chew through hard plastic. It's also important that you remove the debris from your backyard. This is especially important where dead grass and leaves are a concern. Dead grass and leaves provide an excellent hiding place for mice. 

Schedule Pest Service

If you haven't started pest control services yet, you still have time to do that. You might think you can keep mice away without professional pest control services, but that's not the case. Mice will continue to return to your home until you hire a pest control service. As an added benefit, your pest control service will also keep other pests away. That means you won't need to worry about ants, spiders, and roaches either.

To learn more, contact a company like Best Pest Control Services.