Finding the perfect home is about more than having enough bedrooms, square footage, or falling in love with the property’s curb appeal.
You also want to be sure about your neighbors, and I am not talking about the ones on the other side of the fence or across the street. These neighbors are more like unwanted house guests – the bugs that have set up their own homes under your roof.
Of course, every home is going to have a few pests hiding in the nooks and crannies, but there are some infestations that should make you question whether to move forward with the purchase of a home.
You’re not expected to be able to find the types of critters that can cause damage to the property. That should be done by the pest inspection you will commission as part of the due diligence of buying the property.
You’ll be required to organize an inspection as a condition of obtaining a mortgage on the property. Even if you’re buying with cash, you’d be crazy to not have the pest inspectors around for the sake of a few extra dollars.
Below, I’ve listed some of the pest problems you might encounter when buying your home. I hope you find them helpful.
- Wood-Destroying Bugs: Termites, carpenter ants, and woodboring beetles are the main culprits here. Their signatures include holes, sawdust, or uneven insulation in wooden areas. Termites are especially sneaky. You can spot their activity by looking for mud tubes around the foundation and walls.
- Wildlife: Rats, bats, and squirrels may carry disease and can cause significant structural damage. Signs of their activity include droppings, chewed wires, or signs of entry points through holes, cracks and crevices.
- Cockroaches: Food and trash attract these ugly critters. They love hiding in covered hinges of kitchen cabinets, the warmth of a coffee machine and near warm pipes under the home. They’ll also fly through open doors and windows in summer. Call in a professional extermination company to tackle an infestation.
- Nuisance Pests: I’m referring to mosquitos, bed bugs, fleas, ticks, hornets, and wasps. While not as destructive, they can certainly disrupt your lifestyle. Standing water, unsealed entry points, and clutter attract these pests.
- Plaster Beetles: Common in new construction, plaster beetles feed on mold and fungus. They won’t cause any damage, but who needs those guys as a roommate?