Purchasing a home is a big decision. A property may look fine during a walkthrough, but hidden pest problems can be easy to miss. While a general home inspection can identify many visible issues, a professional pest inspection report can help identify signs of termites, rodents, and moisture.
These pest problems cause structural damage, safety risks, water-related deterioration, and unexpected repair costs. However, getting a pest inspection before you buy a home gives you time to understand the issues and discuss repairs or treatment with the seller.
4 Reasons to Get a Professional Pest Inspection Before Buying a Home
According to the U.S. EPA, termites cause structural damage worth billions of dollars yearly, while property owners spend over $2 billion annually managing pest problems.
So, before purchasing a new house, it is crucial to get a pest inspection. It can assist you in identifying hidden issues, along with damage or conditions that could lead to future problems.
Plus, finding these issues early gives you time to discuss treatment or repairs with the seller.
1 Detect Hidden Pest Activity in Hard-to-See Areas
When buying a home, people usually focus on the things that are easy to notice, such as location, size of rooms, yard, storage space, etc. But one thing we don’t see is “pests”.
They may be hidden in areas that we rarely check and leave behind clues such as droppings, door sweeps, wood-to-soil contact, roofline openings, damaged screens, or other signs of activity. With a professional pest inspection, you can quickly detect early signs of pest activity.
Common areas that are inspected before buying a new home:
- Attics and accessible crawl spaces
- Windows, doors, and other potential points of entry
- Storage spaces and garages
- Areas around plumbing and water sources
- Foundations and external walls
- Wooden parts of the property and damaged sections
- Outside spaces and landscaping where pests could hide or enter
Professional pest inspection before purchasing property is not just about finding termites. It is about finding the evidence of pest activity and conditions that could lead to serious damage.
2 Deal With Pest Issues Before You Buy
With a pre-purchase pest inspection, you get a clearer picture of the property layout.
A pre-purchase inspection before closing can be very helpful for homebuyers; if the inspection finds any pest activity or damage, buyers still have time to review the findings and discuss termites, rodents, wood damage, wiring, insulation, etc., with the seller.
If you are planning to purchase a home soon, scheduling a pest inspection early can help you avoid potential repair costs.
3 Have More Leverage When Negotiating
Termites weaken wood structures, while rodents chew through wiring or insulation. Even smaller pests like cockroaches and ants can create health risks like allergies, bacterial contamination, respiratory irritation, etc.
With a pre-purchase pest inspection, you can discuss potential concerns with the seller. Plus, pest control services may satisfy you with the property condition before completing the purchase.
4 Predict Future Pest Risks
When you purchase a property, you may not know about cracks, gaps, leaks, and damage. These areas can create entry points and conditions that increase the risk of future pest activity.
Pest control before buying a property helps you identify these issues in time and can help you decide on treatment, negotiate repairs, or continue with the purchase.
What Happens During a Professional Pest Inspection?
A professional EnviroGuard team looks for signs of past pest activity, damage, entry points, and conditions that may attract pests. Some common things they look for include:
Detect Active Pest Activity
Inspectors look for live insects, rodent droppings, nests, egg cases, trails, shed wings, and other evidence that pests are currently active on the property. They also check hidden or rarely checked areas where pests commonly live.
Search for Evidence of Past Infestation
Even if no pests are currently active, inspectors can still find signs of a past infestation. Indicators like damaged wood, cracks, droppings, etc can point to past pest activity that may need a closer look.
Find Pest Entry Point
They also look for entry points that could allow pests to enter your property. This may include doors, windows, foundations, utility openings, roofs, and small gaps, openings, and other parts of the property.
Identify Pest-Related Damage
During a pre-purchase pest inspection, the inspector may detect visible damage that may be linked to pests’ activity, and after that, they provide recommendations for additional evaluation if necessary.
Moisture and Other Attractants
A pest inspector looks for current conditions that may attract pests, such as leaks, standing water, damp areas, irrigation problems, food sources, and plants growing too close to the house.
The inspection process may vary depending on the property type, age, area, climate, etc.
When to Schedule It?
The timing of a pest inspection affects the timing before closing. It gives you time to address them with the seller. The best time to schedule a pest inspection is before the home-buying process. At this stage, you still have time to review the findings, ask questions, negotiate price with the seller, and understand the property’s condition.
| When | Why |
| Before closing | Find pest issues early. |
| During contingency | Address concerns before purchase. |
Hire Pest Inspection Before Buying a Home in Las Vegas
If you are planning a home purchase, hiring a professional pest inspection provides useful information before closing. It involves current pest activity, past infestations, entry points, areas at risk, etc.
A licensed local EnviroGuard team can help you understand what needs to be addressed before buying. Since 2006, the team has provided professional pest inspections to help homeowners and buyers find pest activity, damage, and other risks associated with pests.
- Free Estimate & Inspection from a Green Business Certified Team
- Nevada-Licensed Pest Control Company
- Emergency Assistance 24/7
- Free of Long-Term Agreement
Schedule your pest inspection before finalizing the property. It helps you minimize the risk of discovering costly pest problems after moving in.
