Thankfully, having stinkbugs in residence does not devalue our Smith Mountain Lake real estate, or the enjoyment of our lives here, but it can be very irritating nevertheless. Most of us are trying to find ways to get rid of the smelly critters and keep them from coming into the house in the first place.
In the fall these bugs are looking for a warm place to spend the winter and so they crawl in around window and door frames, etc. To keep them out, look for any tiny openings where they may try to crawl in and seal those spaces up tight. Close doors and windows when possible. Look for small cracks in siding, along doors, plumbing, etc., and use silicone caulking to block anything from coming through. Repair torn screens, put screens on your window or attic fans, etc. These are the kinds of things that help you to avoid stink bug invasions.
Stink bugs are attracted to lights after dark, so draw the curtain at night and turn the porch light off as soon as you can in the evenings. Also, if you discover stink bugs on your plants you can scoop them up in an old jar or another container. This might take a little more time, but the containers make removal easier and help keep the bug from feeling threatened and making a stink.
If all else fails, you can always use insecticide treatments on the outside of your house. They will provide some relief. A popular professional product for stink bug control is Talstar Pro. Be certain none of your pets have access to the treated areas and know that you will have to re-treat the house every 7-10 days for it to remain effective during stinkbug season.