4 Ways Pest Control Experts Can Help When You Buy a New Home

Here are four ways pest control experts can help when you buy a new home.

1. Inspect for Pests and Identify Damage

During the course of an inspection, a home inspector may let you know if they see obvious signs of rodent damage or termite damage. However, their job is to give a general overview of the home's condition, not check to see if the home currently has pests.

A pest control expert can look for many types of pests that the home inspector won't have time to hunt for, such as:

Some of these types of pests are more likely to cause obvious signs such as structural damage. Others (such as bedbugs) may be harder to spot and yet are just as important to eliminate.

2. Check for Vulnerabilities

What if your home doesn't have termites yet, but a recent repair makes it more vulnerable to a future termite infestation? Some things that can make a home extra susceptible to termites include:

• Easy spots for termites to access the home (such as open attic vents)
• Untreated wood on the outside of the home
• Damp environment in attic or basement
• Wood mulch near the sides of the home
  

Your pest control expert can check for these and any other vulnerabilities that could make your home a target for termites or other damaging pests. They can then give recommendations to help you avoid picking up a pest problem as you settle into your new home.

3. Assess Repair Needs

If you decide to buy a home even though it has pest damage, you may want to ask the seller to agree to pay for the repairs. This is a common way to negotiate for a better deal on a new home. However, repair costs can vary based on how much repair you need and what company you choose to perform these repairs.

Choosing a professional pest control company to make a repair needs assessment is useful because these contractors are experienced with pest damage. This means they'll be more likely to uncover all the effects the pest damage has had on the home so nothing is overlooked.

In addition, pest control experts can provide an expert opinion on whether you need to find funds for extermination costs as well as repair costs.

4. Provide a Quote for Prevention

Some types of insect damage can be prevented with regular treatments. For instance, termite prevention can include applying products around the perimeter of your home to prevent termites from tunneling towards your walls and foundation. Some homes, such as those with a lot of wood features, can be very susceptible to termites, which makes this protection a must.

In addition to letting you know what vulnerabilities your home has and helping you mitigate them, a professional pest control expert can provide you with a quote for the application of a termite treatment. Pest control experts can also help you develop a plan for how often termite treatments should be repeated for best prevention.

These are just some of the ways pest control experts can help you as you buy a new home. You have plenty of other things to worry about during this new chapter in your life, so leave the pest issues to the professionals.

For more information on the prevention and treatment of pest issues, get in touch with American Pest Professionals today.