All of us grow up with a dream of owning a home someday. A casual look around our neighborhood will reveal new apartments and villas under construction. This is testimony to the fact that the real estate business is thriving everywhere. So, if we are to get home, we have multiple choices in front of us: either construct a new home or buy an existing home from someone. If we are choosing the second option, a pest inspection is mandatory prior to purchase. We have to remember that since this is a huge financial investment we need to make an informed decision.
In most cases, a building inspection is considered mandatory but a pest inspection is often ignored. In fact, a pre-purchase pest inspection is an important step that helps us avoid unexpected financial burdens and stress post-purchase.
What Is A Pre-purchase Pest Inspection?
A pre-purchase pest inspection is an inspection that is carried out before the purchase of a property to ensure it is free from pests and safe to buy. It is usually performed by a professional pest control company on behalf of the buyer. In most cases, the buyer bears the pre-purchase pest inspection cost.
However, some signs don’t require an expert’s help. Even laymen can find out if the property is infected or not.
General Signs Of Infestation
Signs of infestation are usually visible only after the pests have established their dominion on the property. Some of the common signs are as follows:
- Mud tunnels on walls are a sign of termites
- Burrows or holes indicate the presence of carpenter bees and beetles
- Soft spots in the garden indicate the presence of moles or wasps
- Damaged screens or fences indicate the presence of rodents like mice or squirrel
Why Is Pre-purchase Pest Inspection A Requisite?
A single decision to conduct an inspection can turn your investment opportunity into a hassle-free and beneficial process. If you think otherwise, please go through the benefits of this process:
- Apart from giving you confidence, it can
- provide you with bargaining power
- give a push to your property bid or loan applications
- The health and well-being of family members are always a priority. Unknowingly occupying a pest-infested space might increase the risk of diseases.
- This process guarantees lifetime coverage with follow-up inspections to ensure a pest-free home.
- The detailed inspection reports will help you in taking proactive measures to combat the issue. You will be provided with the estimated costs too.
- The reports also help you in evaluating the price of the property.
How To Prepare For The Inspection?
To make sure that the inspection is a smooth process, you can request the seller to take some basic steps beforehand:
- Clear out blocked spaces and rearrange the things in kitchen sinks and washbasins.
- If you have an attic, make it accessible and friendly by clearing the entrance.
- Trim your garden for a thorough inspection.
Process
Pest inspectors usually follow three basic steps:
- A thorough inspection of the exteriors and interiors of your home.
- Risk assessment to determine if the property is at risk for termite infestation.
- Advice on how to deal with future risks including pest control in the home.
Choosing A Pest Inspector
- Unwary first-timers commit the mistake of going with real estate agents’ recommendations. Usually, these inspectors have a tie-up with the agents and may not conduct a thorough investigation, since infestations can decrease the value of the property.
- Check the qualification and general pest control license. They should have public liability insurance and professional indemnity while conducting inspections.
When you invest your money in buying a home you have to make sure that the space is clean and safe for the family members. Pest inspection presents you with a valuable and comprehensive report that can help you determine the actual value of the property. Remember: don’t be a victim, always be a smart buyer.