The housing market, after being in the worst slump in decades, is coming back. More people are purchasing existing homes — that is once they secure a mortgage. Before they throw down the honest money, it’s always in your best interest to have a total home inspection. Someone qualified in that department will be able to point-out problems which could turn into bargaining chips. What’s more important is that these flaws get fixed before you move-in or the current owner may need to shave-off a couple of thousand bucks from the asking price before you make this major investment.

But don’t stop there. Also retain a pest control company to give the place a once-over.

Home Inspection Finds Termites, But That’s About It for Pests

You can do it yourself, but … a pro is going to find things in nooks and crannies you’d never think of peering into. Take a look at what the experts do when seeking-out the bugs and critters from your new dream house. They bring along equipment like:

• Some type of pyrethrin-based flushing agents to eliminate what they may find on-the-spot.
• Ladders to go right to the top of the structure so they can find nose-bleed bugs.
• An extremely bright array of flashlights to shine some light on those hidden in the dark.
• A magnifying glass to better tell them what type of insect it is and give them the right stuff to kill the critters. Not all insecticides are the same.
• A couple of screwdrivers to tap on the wood. Maybe a small crowbar to remove the surface and go deep in case they suspect some trouble behind-the-scenes.
• A hand mirror with an extendible handle to scrutinize places like under and behind major appliances.
• A notepad and pen to keep tabs on what they find.

Next Step

You may think it’s all about the inside of the home. A professional like someone from Vulcan knows that the little beasts have to come from somewhere. 99.999% of the time, that means the outdoors.

• A professional will take a walk around the perimeter. They’re looking for moisture spots or leaks that lead into the home. They’ll check-out the eaves, vents and minor cracks where bugs make their entrance.
• The crawlspace tells a pro many things. Not only are they shining the light on existing or dead carcasses, they’re looking for — bluntly — crap that a rat or some other animal may have left behind. While down there, the professional will identify any leaks from the pipes. Remember: Every critter needs water. Dry-up the supply and you’ve just deprived the creatures from a drink at your expense.
• Don’t have a crawlspace, instead you’ve got a basement? Another treasure trove of information to the hired hand. Any signs of previous bug damage is important, even those pests that have moved-on. And it’s great info for you. The monsters may have done some damage that will create structural issues for you after you’ve signed the contract.

As you can see, this is not a job that’s easily done when you DIY. After all, the buyer is waiting to close. If you take this task on yourself, you’re talking about days. Vulcan has the tools and expertise to make this an easy, short drive.

Think bargaining again. The old owner needs to take care of it, or knock a couple more hundred off the bill of sale so you can take care of the problem — professionally.

While we’re a pest control company, we leave you with a couple of suggestions when you about to buy a house: Get a Radon and asbestos inspection. While we don’t do this work, these are known cancer causing agents.

You don’t want you new house to bug you — or kill you, either.

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/home-improvement/buying-a-house-get-a-pro-bug-inspection-first