Buying a new home is a huge step that can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. It’s an investment you will literally live in – and possibly for a very long time. Making the right decision is essential. Structural issues are important questions to ask, such as whether the home has a good foundation and roof. What many don’t realize is that existing pest problems that are usually unseen can also affect your home’s integrity as well as your long-term comfort. Specialists in pest control should inspect your Visalia CA home before you buy.
It’s actually required by some mortgage lenders and by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that a professional pest extermination service checks a home for pest infestations before final approval. If this isn’t a requirement of your lending company, be careful that you don’t sign on the dotted line without verifying that the home passes the pest test.
Top Challenges for Pest Control Visalia
It’s always good to have a little perspective on the things that place a demand on your bank account and your attention. The reality is that pest control is a necessity in Visalia CA and the surrounding area due to common home invaders such as termites, cockroaches, bedbugs, rats, mice, and carpenter ants. No matter how small these pests may be, the impact they can make is huge.
Termites
More damage is done to homes by termites every year than damage caused by fires, storms, and floods combined. The average cost of repairs that a homeowner pays due to a
termite infestation is $3,000.Termites travel into homes through mud shelter tubes that they build. They are notorious for chewing through flooring and wood without being detected.
Cockroaches
Cockroach infestations are a year-around threat. Cockroaches are attracted to food that’s left out, dirty cabinets, crumbs on the floor, and moisture. Anyone who keeps a pristine house and avoids water leaks can avoid cockroaches.
Bed Bugs
There have been some outbreaks of
bed bugs in Visalia CA from time to time. Traveling and staying in hotels is one of the ways pests can find entry into a home. If used furniture or anything that’s secondhand containing cloth is purchased, it could introduce bed bugs into a home. It’s best to rely on a pest extermination service to determine if a home has bed bugs.
Rats and Mice
Rodents in search of food, water, and shelter seek entry into homes. Due to intrusion into natural habitats, attics, sub-floors, and chimneys have become nesting places. Signs of rats and mice include droppings, gnawed wires, and scratching sounds.
Carpenter Ants
Pest control Visalia is often needed to get rid of carpenter ants. They feast on moisture-softened wood. Piles of what appears to be sawdust provide evidence of carpenter ants.
Pest Prevention Inside the Home
There could be many telltale signs that a home for sale is at least at risk for having a pest problem. These are things experts in pest control know to look for and homeowners do well to tend to.
Entry Points
Close attention should be paid to potential pest entry points. Neglect in this area means a home is pest-friendly and open to invasion. The following are top pest entry points:
- Cracks in the foundation
- Cracked water pipes
- Broken screens
- Cracks in window frames
- There is a gap between the bottom of an entry door and the threshold
Moisture
Cockroaches, mosquitos, and small flies are attracted to moisture. If a home has moisture-damaged wood and unrepaired leaky pipes and/or faucets, these insects have likely taken up residence. Conditions that create excess moisture in the home should always be repaired as quickly as possible, to avoid attracting pests.
Food
If a home for sale is still occupied when you do a walk-through, you may notice how clean the kitchen area appears to be kept. Although entry points initially invite pests in, failing to adequately clean up food spills and messes worsens the problem. Trash cans piled up with garbage in and around a house aren’t good signs to anyone who seriously wants to avoid pests.
Pest Prevention Outside the Home
When you are touring the outside of a home for sale, there are many signs you could look for that might contribute to a pest problem in the home and yard.
Firewood
Homes with wood-burning fireplaces typically have a stack of wood out back. Firewood should never be stacked against a house, though many homeowners do this for the sake of convenience. It is proven that when firewood is against a house, termites are drawn to the home and are much more likely to make entry. Termites are sometimes inside logs. If they aren’t immediately burned, the termites could invade the home. To avoid attracting pests, woodpiles should be stored at least 5 inches away from the ground and a minimum of 20 feet away from the house.
Gutters
Are the gutters of a home obviously clogged? This makes a home much more vulnerable to termites. Not only should the gutters be clear but rainwater should be diverted from the foundation with splash block and down-spout extenders.
Rotting Stumps and Plants
If a yard has stumps or dry, dead plants in the landscaping, the rotting wood is fuel for termites that inevitably draws the wood-destroying insects inside the home. Excess wood should be removed from a property.
Contact the Best Pest Extermination Service
Pests are covert and stealthy. A thorough
pest extermination service is the type you should rely on for pest control Visalia before buying a home. Because of the expertise and experience of the pest experts at Pest Control Now, you can be fully confident that any existing pest problems in a home will be discovered. Because this is the type of information you need before choosing your next home in Visalia CA, call Pest Control Now at 559-651-9882.
