Purchasing a home is the most expensive investment that one makes in his or her lifetime. Hence, it is important to ascertain if the property has some defects, damage or is plagued by termites and pests. Pests not only cause damage to your home but also pose a great risk to your health and wellbeing. It is a prudent exercise to undertake pre-purchase pest inspections before you zero in on your new property. Here is a list of few things which you must consider during pest inspection.
How To Choose Your Pest Inspector?
Since buying a house is a big investment, you should not leave any stone unturned in availing the best services for your home. While looking for pest inspectors, don’t settle for anyone just because they offer economical services. Try to look for pest inspectors who are well-experienced in this field and have provided their services to your friends, colleagues or relatives from whom you can gather feedback on their accuracy. A trained inspector will take his own time to carry out a comprehensive inspection using the best practices of the pest inspection ecosystem.
Check The Qualification, Insurance, And License Of The Pest Inspectors
Before you finalize a pest inspector for your home, make sure that they are skilled at and possess the license to do this work. In addition to this, they should also have public liability insurance and professional indemnity to save you from any kind of future losses.
Step By Step Inspection Guidelines
Entry Point Inspection
The entry points of your home are the most common places where pests can attack and linger on to play havoc. These places include your home garage, doors, windows, and pipes. Hence, ask your hired professional to exercise vigil while inspecting these areas. Though the inspection of such areas might be time-consuming, it will definitely save a lot of your time and money in the future.
Moisture Check
The moisture in and around your place is closely linked to the presence of pests. This is because moist areas are more likely to harbor pests than dry areas. Your exterminator will use certain tools to detect moist areas in your home. Make sure that all such areas get covered under the pest inspection exercise.
Cost Of Pest Inspection
This is the most prominent factor which worries most of the house owners. It is advisable to get a quote beforehand from your pest inspection expert and understand the gamut of services they offer in the given price. Though the cost of pest inspection largely depends upon the size of your house, it is always better to get a general overview of the pest inspection cost from the online sources.
Pest Inspection Report
Though it is advisable to be present with the inspector during pest inspection, in the event that you were not present, you must solicit a detailed overview through a pest inspection report. Always ask your pest inspector to mail you the detailed report within 24 hours of the work. A general pest inspection report comprises information on past and current pest activity. It will also cover any construction fault that can most likely cause future pest issues. Apart from this, you will get some recommendations for remedial pest treatments and their cost.
Generally, most pest inspections are guaranteed for around 1-5 years. Do make sure that you know all the important elements that the guarantee covers. Apart from this, also try to find out if the pest control company will take the responsibility of any structural damage if the treatment remains ineffective.
Pests are like a bad dream for any new house owner. Hence, before making a final home purchase, do keep the aforementioned points in your mind. If you offer full cooperation to the pest control company, you can easily eliminate pests and save yourself from the extra expenses caused due to them in the future.
Nice article!! I like the checklist for New Homeowners During Pest Inspection. It is important to be aware of the potential for pests and to have a plan in place for dealing with them. A pest inspection should be part of your regular home maintenance routine, racks or holes in the foundation or exterior walls. These can provide entry points for pests. Gaps around doors and windows: These can also allow pests to enter your home.