Most homeowners don’t know what happens when a professional pest inspection occurs. They assume a person walks through and sprays chemicals and leaves. But the pest inspection is far more in-depth, and knowing how it works helps define why professionals are better when pest prevention or repairs fail when a DIY approach is taken.
The Inspection Process: Initial Survey
It all starts before stepping into a house. A trained pest professional approaches the property’s perimeter and looks at the foundation, siding, and where any structures join the ground. They’re on the lookout for cracks, gaps or openings – pest highways leading directly into the house.
That’s right, there’s so much intel gained from taking a cautious walk around the outside of the home. Is there overgrown vegetation touching the house? Pest bridge. Is mulch up to the foundation? Moisture trap welcoming termites and other insects. Are downspouts emptying right next to the foundation? Water issues that become pest problems.
Yet a homeowner, too comfortable in their space, walks right past these issues every day without blinking. But someone trained to notice these openings sees them immediately.
The Inspection Process: More Than Just Exploring
Once inside, precautions take even more caution. It’s not simply looking for pests. It’s looking for signs pests have been present or are currently stowed away. Droppings, droppings, shed skins, egg cases, teeth gnaws, grease trail pathways along baseboards – it’s how those professionals make sense of what’s going on when no one is looking.
Kitchens and bathrooms are inspected deeper due to the fact that they signify more moisture. Inspectors check under sinks, behind appliances and in cabinets to locate water damage or leaks – moisture that makes roaches, silverfish and many other pests more comfortable. This level of depth separates a trained professional from a quick look-see. This is why those looking for the best pest control meridian has to offer will find those companies that take inspection seriously instead of rushing to start treatment.
In addition to this, basements and crawl spaces are typically dark places a homeowner wouldn’t want to visit anyway. But here’s the thing – these spaces are often where the pest problem begins. An inspector will look for spider webs, rodent droppings, termites (and their mud tubes), and standing water from improper drainage. They’ll check insulation for nesting materials; they’ll notice wood which is structural and wood which sustains pests and analyze them for damage.
The Attic Assessment
Inspection attics get their own section because most people don’t go in their attics often or at all. Attics are home to rodents (and wasps, bees, and bats). An inspector goes up there (so you don’t have to) and checks for holes where they could have gotten in, nests, droppings and damage to insulation or wire.
The biggest caveat here are chewed wires. Rodents chew consistently because their teeth never stop growing; electrical fires from wires gnawed through occur more than homeowners realize. A full inspection of the attic helps find these warnings before it’s too late.
Exterior Structures and Landscaping
Post-inspection, someone will check exterior structures – sheds, garages, decks – for similar wood-to-ground interactions that indicate issues for termites. Old lumber piles, firewood against the house, untreated wood touching earth – all problematic for pests.
Landscaping goes hand in hand with pest control more than most people know. Trees with branches hanging over the roof provide access for squirrels and raccoons. Thick shrubs against the house provide cover and passageways. Puddles due to poor drainage provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Any inspector will note these situations because successful pest management is not about killing bugs but preventing situations that attract them.
What Should Be Expected
So what’s expected? A report should be generated not at random but at the end of the inspection. This should not be a vague “you’ve got bugs” situation but a detailed listing of what’s found where (entry points) an account of what’s attracting them to where (conditions worsening).
In good faith, a professional should also issue prospective problems down the line. For example, while there may be no termite activity yet, the conditions exist should one end up getting in. Or there may be signs of a mouse here or there but not necessarily an infestation. Curbing this early on saves homeowners huge headaches once infestations manifest.
In addition to this there should be photos documenting problem areas as visual evidence will help dissuade any doubt as to what’s going on and why treatment intervention or repairs are suggested.
The Treatment Discussion After Inspection
At inspection’s close, technicians will discuss what was found and how treatment should occur over what’s developed over time versus with sporadic treatments suggested by amateurs spraying X on days Y.Z without any consideration as to specifics.
Good treatment strategies incorporate specific entry points where found as well as suggestions on how to prevent it next time – sealing gaps better than simply spraying doesn’t attract insects who get comfortable in gaps until chemicals kicked them out.
There should also be accountability for time – do results happen quickly? Or do they take time as items are carried back to nests/colonies? Will follow up visits happen as necessary?
What’s important also is what a homeowner misses on their own DIY ventures – someone who’s trained knows what to look for and where. Professional inspectors have seen thousands of infestations; they can identify markings that untrained eyes would miss quickly. They understand pest behaviors – they know which pests prefer which conditions so they go in looking without ever spotting pests beforehand; trained professionals know how to best avoid aggressive pests (wasps/hornets).
Maybe more importantly, they know what’s safe. They can poke around without endangering people or pets and know what’s best advocated.
Making Inspections Better
There are a few ways homeowners can help professionals help them – make everything accessible. It’s not fair to ask your pest inspector to crawl into places that have been blocked by cobwebs; they need easy access, so anything stored in basements/crawl spaces needs to be removed. Attics also need their entrance cleared so pest inspectors can most easily gain access.
Homeowners should also be present so professionals can point out what they’re seeing in real time versus after when it’s too late. Understanding while it’s happening will help convince homeowners why preventative measures are critical later.
Overall, professional inspections provide peace of mind knowing that existing problems can be found but that conditions exist creating further complications which will be assessed holistically when good pest management seeks solutions rather than temporary fixes that leave homeowners dealing with the same issues again down the line.
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Meet the blogger behind Life In Velvet – Bec, a mum of 4 currently living on the US East Coast with her kids, husband and numerous pets. Bec shares her favourite things on this award-nominated lifestyle blog – especially recipes and baking, crafts, home and interiors, DIY, her love for all things seasonal, and a good motivational quote!