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So, You’re Buying a House on Long Island?
Shopping for a new house on Long island can be a daunting task, but part of buying a new house is the excitement of making it a home for you and your family! Because of all of the daunting tasks that come along with buying a new home, homebuyers often overlook the aspect of pest control.
At Suburban, our mission is to ensure that your home and family remain protected from pests so you can enjoy your new house inside and out! This includes being aware of potential pest problems before buying a new home.
If you’re currently looking for a Long Island house to buy, we’ve developed a handy pest control checklist that will help you determine if a potential house you’re viewing is the right fit for you. Our home buying checklist covers a variety of pest control issues a house can have, however, pest control concerns don’t have to be a dealbreaker if you’ve otherwise found the right home. We’ll share how to spot those issues before you put in your offer, in order to help ensure you get a fair price if you do decide to buy!
Look for Signs of Termite Damage
Termite damage repair can be a costly issue for any homeowner, and seeking out signs of past or present termite infestations should be top of mind when you’re considering purchasing a house. There are several indicators of termite activity to look out for when you’re home shopping.
- Does knocking on wood result in weak, hollow sounds?
- Is there any damage to decks or fence posts?
- Are there mud tubes along the house’s foundation, along basement walls, or in crawl spaces?
Why You Need a Wood Destroying Insect Report
Wood Destroying Insect Reports, often referred to as “termite inspection letters,” are commonly ordered during a real estate transaction, so you may already have this on your home buying checklist!
Compared to a typical free termite inspection, a Wood Destroying Insect Report is a legal document, often required by a mortgage company or real estate lender. This report involves a termite inspection by a licensed pest control company, as well as a visual inspection of the property. It reveals if the inspected areas have any previous or current infestations by wood destroying insects, including but not limited to termites. It’ll also mention if there are conducive conditions for future infestations.
Signs of Underlying Household Pest Issues
Many pests have similar needs—food, water, and shelter, and will take advantage of any of these desires a home is able to fulfill for them. Here are a few signs of underlying household pest issues to look out for when you’re home shipping:
- Is there moisture under the house, for example, in the crawl space?
- Are there cracks in the house foundation?
- Are there cracks in the house walls?
- Is it damp in the house? Is there a damp smell in the house?
- Are there scratching noises in the walls?
- Can you visibly see an active pest infestation?
- Are there visible insect or rodent droppings?
Piles of Wood and Other Outdoor Concerns
Piles of wood stacked up next to the home structure can be a welcome invitation for termites. Firewood should always be kept off the ground, on a rack or other raised surface. When woodpiles are stacked against a house or in close proximity to the home’s foundation, it encourages termites to start munching on the home.
Another outdoor concern to look for is holes in the yard, which could be a tell-tale sign of pests such as moles, voles, armadillos, birds, small insects, or chipmunks, all of which can be destructive to the property. The size of holes in the yard is an important clue when identifying the pest, but so is location.
Holes in the lawn are usually attributed to small rodents like moles and voles. Birds will make holes in sod while searching for food, and some wasps and other insects will even lay eggs in sod, which produces small holes. Areas near tree roots could be the burrows of rats or chipmunks, and larger holes may be home to armadillos or groundhogs.
Guaranteed Pest Control on Long Island
If you’re planning to buy a new house on Long Island, pest concerns should certainly be considered. Choosing a qualified home inspector can help you in your search for the perfect home, as they will inform you of any potential home issues such as excessive moisture, which may be conducive to pest issues.
You can even ask your realtor if one of Suburban Exterminating’s state-certified, licensed pest control technicians can provide a free visual inspection of the property before you buy, to help ensure you choose a new home at a fair price, that will make you happy for years to come.
Call (631) 864-6900 to schedule an inspection with your local Long Island exterminator!
Happy house hunting!