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Shopping for a New Home? Watch Out for These Pest Infestation Signs
Sep 03, 2022
Pest infestations can disrupt your lifestyle and bring unexpected expenses. So, you must be keen to spot pest infestations when touring houses, condos, and apartments. Below are telltale signs a potential home has a pest problem.
Bad Odors
Foul smells aren't usually a good sign when house hunting, and most pests leave distinct odors in different areas. For example, a musty or oily smell in the kitchen and pantry often indicates cockroaches. A soy sauce smell is also associated with these pests.
An ammonia or urine odor indicates a rodent infestation, and the house likely harbors mice, rats, or squirrels. If you detect a sweet, musty smell, a large bedbug infestation may await your family in the new house.
Pest experts attribute an earthy scent to termites and ants, as they stir the dirt and debris under the house. A property that smells like garbage is also a cause of concern because it attracts more pests.
Odd Sounds
Keep your ears alert for squeaking sounds that indicate rodents and other pests as you tour potential homes. The sound of tiny feet scurrying across floorboards and walls signifies mice and rat activity. These sounds are more apparent at night as rodents are nocturnal, and you may miss them if you tour the property during the day. So, contract pest inspection services to ensure you don't buy a house with rodent infestations.
Live and Dead Bugs
Many pests are expert hiders, but you might see a stray cockroach scurry past the house as you tour different rooms. Bring a flashlight and examine dark areas like closets, cabinets, and loose floorboards for the best chance to see live pests. Check around water and gas pipes for mice and other rodents, and inspect areas near water sources for roaches and ants.
Keep an eye out for dead bugs on carpets, windowsills, and basements. While a few dead mosquitoes and flies are usually normal, organize a pest inspection if you see many dead bugs of the same species. You may also see different parts of a pest, like the legs and wings, without seeing the entire body. Don't ignore such parts, as a pest inspector can quickly discover any nests in the house.
Droppings and Spots
You may not see live bugs, but they leave their droppings around the house. Cockroach droppings appear as black or dark brown seed-like pellets inside cabinets and closets; along baseboards; under refrigerators, stoves, or dryers; and in storage areas. Many droppings can indicate a large cockroach infestation, so the house often needs prompt pest control services.
Rodents commonly leave their droppings around corners and walls, while termite waste resembles wood shavings. A bedbug infestation appears as dark brown spots behind beds, around furniture, near outlets, or on walls.
Property Damage
Rodents and bugs often access homes through small holes in floors and walls. If you suspect a termite infestation, examine the window door frames and baseboards for damage. Rodents are seasoned chewers, so check electrical wires for chew marks and holes through walls and floorboards. If left unchecked, pests can cause extensive structural damage to any home.
Outdoor Breeding Grounds and Nests
Outdoor areas also harbor pest infestations, so walk around the yard looking for pest sanctuaries. Mosquitoes love stagnant water, while flies move toward open pipes and smelly garbage cans.
Mole hills are another cause of concern since moles feed on insects and nearby bugs. Wood shavings around the foundation can indicate a termite infestation, and also check for squirrel nests in trees.
Pest infestation signs are not always apparent, and a pest inspection is necessary before you buy a home. Call us
today at American Pest Professionals for prompt pest control services.
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