Inside:
The key to combating pests is to make the house unattractive by keeping things picked up and clean. Bugs don't like a clean environment.

Clean up food
Food is a great place for bugs to run to. Seal up boxes and bags of food. Roaches love cardboard boxes and can climb into these items very easily.
Store open food in plastic bags or containers, such as cereal, flour, or sugar.
Immediately clean up spills and leftover crumbs.
Don't walk around the house while eating. Meals and snacks should be eaten at a table.
Clean dirty dishes right away. Pests want whatever is left of your meals.
Keep a tight lid on your trash and empty it often. Pests love trash and see it as dinner.
Place trash cans far away from a back door entrance to make sure bugs don't wander inside.
Don't leave pet food out overnight.

Eliminate moisture
Always drain dish water from a sink. Roaches can swim and they aren't afraid to fish food out of water.
Wipe water and other spilled liquids off the counter as soon as you see it. Puddles are roach magnets.
Fix leaky faucets, radiators, dishwashers, and washing machines.
Empty any excess water in flower pots and plant stands. A drop of water is all a bug needs.

Seal openings
Seal cracks and openings along baseboards, behind sinks, and around pipes and windows.
Repair holes in door and window screens to prevent insects and other pests from entering a home.

Steps for pest prevention outside:
There are many precautions you can take outside to help reduce the bugs that can get inside your home.

Poor drainage
Correct areas of poor drainage, especially around the foundation. Usually the best way to do that is to add soil so that the ground slopes away from the house.
Be sure that gutters work properly and that splash blocks or other devices for directing water are beneath the downspouts.

Hiding places
Remove or destroy outdoor pest hiding places.
Remove piles of wood from under or around your home to avoid attracting termites and carpenter ants.
Destroy diseased plants, tree clippings, and fallen fruit that may harbor pests. Rake fallen leaves. Keep vegetation, shrubs, and wood mulch at least 18 inches away from your house.
Check all boxes and bags for roaches before bringing them into your home.

Remove breeding sites.
Clean up pet droppings from your yard; they attract flies that can spread bacteria.
Do not accumulate litter or garbage; it draws mice, rats and other rodents. Drain off or sweep away standing puddles of water; water is a breeding place for mosquitoes and other pests.
Make sure drain pipes and other water sources drain away from your house.
Take proper care of all outdoor plants. These include flowers, fruit and shade trees, vegetable and other plants, and your lawn. Good plant health care reduces pest control needs.
Use mulch to reduce weeds and maintain good soil temperature and moisture.

If you find that you still have pests after following these steps for pest prevention, then you may have a bigger problem and will need to call an exterminator. These simple steps will reduce any bugs that may be creeping into your home and you will probably even get rid of them altogether. Remember to follow these steps and get rid of your unwanted guests today!