The Importance of Conducting Pest Inspections During the Homebuying Process

 

Mice, squirrels, raccoons, birds, and other types of wildlife may be fun to observe when they’re in their natural habitats — but no new homeowner wants to find them in their attic, basement, garage, or anywhere else in their home. As such, it’s important to conduct a professional pest inspection as part of the homebuying process — even if you’re already paying for a home inspection. Regular home inspections don’t look for active pest infestations, which means you could end up buying a home with past pest damage and active rodent, wasp, termite, or insect infestations. 

To learn more about the importance of conducting a pest inspection when purchasing a home, check out this resource guide from Wildlife X Team

Check out the video version of this post complete with fascinating pest footage by clicking HERE now.

You can also download the pest-free audio-only podcast by clicking on the podcast widget above this post.​

How to Conduct a Pest Inspection

Are you in the process of buying a new home? Conducting a pest inspection will help you to ensure you’re not buying a house with an active infestation of bugs, rodents, birds, or bats. 

  • First, learn about the importance of inspecting a home for pests before moving forward with your purchase.
  • As you hunt for new homes, be on the lookout for signs of pest damages and infestations (e.g. dead pests inside of the home, cracks in walls, or nests, webs, and mice or rat droppings).
  • Contact Wildlife X Team to obtain a full Wildlife Inspection Report. Wildlife X Team inspects homes for signs of pest infestations and damages, identifies entry points, and offers recommendations for removing common household pests and preventing future infestations from occurring. 
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers some tips for choosing a pest control service to inspect your new home and manage pests when necessary. You’ll want to obtain a list of professional references, request proof of licensure or certification, and determine whether the company in question will provide you with a full report of their findings. 


Best Practices When Buying a Home with an Active Infestation

If after you’ve paid for a pest inspection you learn that your new home has an active infestation, you’ll want to follow these best practices.
 

  • After conducting a professional home and pest inspection, you can try to negotiate with the sellers to resolve any active pest infestations or repair past damages from insects, termites, rodents, and other pests. 
  • If the sellers won’t agree to resolve the pest infestation as part of your purchase agreement, make sure you understand what it means to purchase a property in as-is condition. 
  • In the event that pests have damaged your home’s foundation, make sure you’re aware of the dangers of purchasing a home with structural issues.


Pest Prevention and Control

Once you’ve moved into your new home, these tips will help to keep unwanted guests from hibernating in your attic, basement, window ledges, and walls. 
 

  • Perform regular home maintenance to prevent wild animals and other pests from entering your home. Wildlife X Team shares several wildlife prevention tips for homeowners. 
  • Keep your home clean and decluttered, especially in areas such as the kitchen, pantries, closets, and garbage areas. Avoid stacking firewood near your home or anywhere in your garage.
  • Family Handyman offers some tips for controlling pests without help from a professional. As a few examples, you’ll want to check the foundation, doors, and windows for gaps, seal cracks and gaps with mesh, caulk, or weatherstripping, and trim any branches that hang over your roof or siding.
  • If wildlife or other pests enter your new home, contact Wildlife X Team to have them removed quickly and safely. 


To avoid buying a home with significant pest damages or active pest infestations, it’s important for homebuyers to conduct a professional pest inspection in addition to their general home inspections. A thorough pest inspection can help homebuyers to make the best possible decisions when purchasing a home — ensuring that they’ll feel happy, safe, and comfortable in their new living space for many years to come.

If you think that you have a wildlife or pest infestation problem, please give us a call at 855-WILDLIFE or visit our home-page at www.wildlifexteam.com for more information. 

Thanks! 

-Wildlife x Team International 

 

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  • If you have raccoons in your attic, garage, or other areas of your home, call Wildlife X Team® at (817) 431-3007 today! Wildlife X Team are experts in raccoon removal and exclusion services.
  • Squirrel problems are rampant nationally. Squirrels can cause extensive damage in and around homes, including soiling floors and walls. Squirrels don't stand a chance against Wildlife X Team®'s trained professional staff.
  • Rodent problems are common for homeowners, but Wildlife X Team® can help you prevent rodents from getting in your walls or your attic. Keep rodents out of your home by calling today!
  • Removing and relocating bats is best left to professionals, as bats will bite and scratch if threatened. If you see signs of bats on your property or want to know how to get rid of bats from your attic and chimney, please call Wildlife X Team® at (817) 431-3007.
  • Although armadillos have no reason to get into houses, there is a lot of damage armadillos can cause. Their diet consists mostly of grubs and insects, but when they burrow, it can affect the very structure of buildings. Call Wildlife X Team® today!
  • Whether you are facing a snake infestation on your property or just notice a single snake, call (817) 431-3007 at Wildlife X Team® today. Most snakes are harmless, some are venomous, and we can remove all kinds of snakes safely and quickly.
  • Birds can add a lot of enjoyment to the outdoor experience, but sometimes they cause trouble. If you're having an issue with problem birds like pigeons, starlings, or sparrows, give Wildlife X Team® a call at (817) 431-3007.
  • At Wildlife X Team®, we offer worry-free opossum removal and trapping. We can also repair any opossum damage.
  • Infamous for their defense mechanism, skunks are smelly creatures. This unique critter releases a scent to ward off predators and stay safe, and it smells offensive and can be dangerous.
  • Coyotes, a relative of the canine, are known for terrorizing livestock, and even household pets. Coyotes are often active at night, and homeowners often report the howling cries of these medium-sized creatures.
  • Badgers are notorious for having a bite that rivals their bark — despite their less-than-formidable size! Badgers have been known to fight animals as large as a bear!
  • Beaver damage is primarily to landscapes like riverbeds and lakesides. If you discover beaver damage in your property, call Wildlife X Team® at (817) 431-3007 to help relocate beavers and repair any damages caused by these flat-tailed critters.
  • Nocturnal creatures, bobcats will take down any prey necessary, especially livestock. Bobcats are territorial and will often return to the property they have claimed as their own, especially if there is a steady food source.
  • Chipmunks can be annoying and clever creatures, but they're no match for Wildlife X Team®. We offer chipmunk removal, and chipmunk damage repair services, plus we know how to keep chipmunks from coming back!
  • Fox landscape damage and feeding behaviors can affect homeowners' safety, so it's important to not approach a fox if you see one in the wild or on your property. Wildlife X Team® offers fox removal, fox trapping, and fox prevention. Call today!
  • Lizards, similar in appearance to snakes, can be frightening if you spot one in the wild or in your home, and although they don't typically attack residents, it's still good to not approach lizards.
  • Mole damage is most commonly found on landscapes, and sometimes humans don't even come into contact with them, but they definitely experience mole damage.
  • If you have discovered scorpion(s) in your garden or on your property, call us today for scorpion removal services.
  • Voles are not often spotted by humans, but vole damage is visible. For vole trapping, vole removal, and vole damage repair services, call Wildlife X Team® today!
  • Infestations of bugs are common, so if you are facing an insect infestation, don't panic—we can help kill insects and get rid of them inside and outside your home.
  • Wild hog trapping and wild hog prevention are the most effective means of wild hog removal. Due to the aggressive nature of wild hogs, we do not recommend DIY wild hog trapping.
  • Termite infestations are common inside homes and on properties, so if you are dealing with insects, call Wildlife X Team® at (817) 431-3007 today to get rid of your termite problem fast and effectively!
  • Bee and wasp infestations are common, so if you are facing a stinging insect infestation, don't panic — we can help get rid of them inside and outside your home.
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