As homebuyers, you should be meticulous in inspecting a property before you buy it.
Some common things that people are surprised to find out about a newly purchased home are mold and mildew, roaches, termites, bed bugs, and rats. These problems can be deadly to children and pets, so you may want to think twice about buying a house that has them. This is the main reason why you should get a pest inspection before putting an offer on a property.
What You Should Expect During A Pest Inspection
The pest inspection process usually lasts a little over 30 minutes, but it also depends on the property’s size. The inspection process might also be longer if the property has plenty of crawl spaces, a basement, or an attic, where these pests can live in.
In Pest Inspections by Pest Ex, the inspector checks the property’s exterior and interior for any signs of infestation or damage. They also check areas that have the potential to attract pests. Checking the overall environment is also critical in the inspection process as you don’t want to invite pests when you move in.
One of the things inspectors do is take moisture readings in critical areas and look for signs of moisture lurking inside the property. In addition to this, they also look for signs of fungi and molds.
Looking for termites and other wood-destroying insects, like powder post beetles and carpenter ants, are also critical in their inspection. These pests not only create damage to furniture or door frames, but these can also affect the structural integrity of the house.
Importance Of Pest Inspection Before Buying a Property
As mentioned, property inspections are critical before you place an offer on the house. If you think that getting a pest inspection is much of a hassle, you should learn these critical advantages first:
1. Gives You Peace Of Mind
Another advantage of getting a home pest inspection done is the sense of peace that comes from being aware that the home’s interior is in good working order. Insects like carpenter ants, roof rats, and carpenter bees can easily penetrate the house’s interiors, damaging the house’s interior structural supports.
These pests can damage other areas of your house as well, such as windows and doors. They can spread the infestation from one part of the house to another, spreading the harm to many more parts of your home, other than the home, furniture, and family.
When you have a complete pest inspection report, you’ll have peace of mind when you start moving into the property.
2. Guarantees That The Property Is Livable
Old homes are expected to have some issues, but unseen pests might be making unseen damages on the property, making it unsafe to live in. An advantage of getting pest inspection is that it enables the pest control companies to assess the home and determine whether they’ll be able to eradicate the infestation of these bugs in time or not.
In some cases, they can come back to the house to take a closer look at the entire house after they are done with the inspection. A home pest inspection helps ensure that the infestation will not return to the home anytime soon.
A professional home inspector not only checks for the existence of pests in your home, but also looks into the cracks of your roof, floorboards, the structure, and the ceiling for any signs of moisture leaks or moisture seeping into the rooms inside your house.
Pests can cause serious damage to many areas of the property. Sometimes, the infestation is too severe that the house may not be safe to live in, especially if the foundations and walls are damaged.
3. Know The Cost Of Eradicating The Pests In The Property
A home inspector will also examine the house and advise you on whether you need a pest control company to get rid of the infestation. They’ll also let you know about the prices for exterminating the infestation.
If the infestation is not too severe, you can decide to exterminate on your own. But if you want to have a thorough job, it’s still a good idea to hire a professional exterminator.
4. Allows You To Negotiate The Property Price
Many realtors will show you a complete inspection checklist before you can make an offer on the property. When you see the problem areas in the pest inspection checklist, it’ll help you assess the house’s actual value.
Suppose the inspection report reveals that pests are lurking around the property, and some unseen damages are already present. In that case, this will help you negotiate the price since you’ll have to spend money on fixing those issues. Depending on the potential costs of fixing the current damage, you can also ask for seller concessions.
5. Gives You An Idea Of Other Home Issues
This is critical if you’re buying a fixer-upper home. If you’re looking to create renovations before living inside a property to customize the space for your needs, pest inspections should be done first. This is because pest inspections may also reveal other issues that come with the property, giving you a complete picture of your investment.
These inspections will help you identify the issues in the materials or construction of the property. Getting a bigger picture of what should be done for the property will help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Final Thoughts
Pest inspections are usually part of the purchasing process for a home. Pest inspection for home buyers is important because it can prevent costly repairs, especially if a problem isn’t addressed early on. As a homebuyer, you want to get your money’s worth even when you’re looking for a fixer-upper.
Pests can lurk around small corners and dark spaces in a property. This is why many homeowners cannot see them immediately or come up with ways to prevent pest infestations. It would be best if you were meticulous in checking inspection reports as these pests can damage the property’s structural integrity, making it unsafe to live in.
Produced in partnership with Pest Ex.