Signs of Pest Infestation to Look Out For When Buying a New Home

Tweet

 

Looking out for signs of a pest infestation is probably the last thing on your mind when you’re walking through a potential new home. You’re busy looking at the size of the garden or checking the walls for cracks to be thinking about pests!

 

Rodents and insects can be unbelievably good at hiding. They can nuzzle down under the floorboards or live inside the walls of a property so that you don’t even notice they’re there when you’re walking around each room.

 

But if you know what signs to look out for when you are house hunting, you can avoid buying a pest-infected property!

 

Here are some important red flags to keep in mind when you’re viewing a property to buy or rent that indicate there might be a pest infestation at hand. If you do end up purchasing or renting a property that you later find out is infected with pests, contact Nextgen Pest Solutions, the pest control professionals.

 

1.      Dead Bugs Indoors

 

One of the most obvious tell-tale signs of a pest infection is seeing dead bugs inside the house. Make sure to check on the window ledges, near the skirting boards, and in the basement. If spot several of the same pest species, it’s likely that there is an infestation somewhere on the property.

 

2.      Odd Noises

 

Hearing weird noises as you walk through a home is a cause for concern. Scratching, nibbling, or gnawing sounds are created when rodents are chewing through wooden floorboards or household items.

 

You might also hear the scuttling of their feet as they run across the attic floor or move around the piping system of the home.

 

3.      Droppings

 

Droppings are another red flag to look out for. They can include small specks of pellets of fecal matter, often found in small clusters.

 

You might have to take a close look around the house to spot some of them, as they can be very small. You could also find small eggs around the property, which may also indicate the presence of bed bugs!

 

4.      Nasty Odors

 

Pests often give off characteristic odors. For example, mice and rats commonly have a musty, urine-like scent, and cockroaches tend to have a damp, oily smell. Pest droppings can also leave an unpleasant odor if not cleaned up.

 

You will probably pick up a strong smell of pests as soon as you enter a particular room if it is infested, but try to purposefully identify the scent in each area of the house. If you can smell garbage, this is also a red flag. Garbage can attract a range of pests!

 

5.      Gnaw Marks or Holes

 

If there are teeth marks on the doors or scratches on the floorboards, it might be a sign of a squirrel or rodent infestation. Similarly, if there are small holes in the walls or floors, it could indicate the presence of insects.

 

Take a close look at the corners of each room and the areas where the walls meet the floor. These tend to be warm, cozy places that pests like to reside.