How to Spot a Pest Problem When Viewing a Property
With Christmas behind us, our thoughts turn
to spring. With warmer temperatures and lengthening days, we start to feel
invigorated. And for many of us, that means making important life changes, like
moving home.
And there is nothing worse than moving into
your new pad only to have your excitement tempered by discovering a pest
problem. From creepy crawlies in the carpets to rats in the basement, these are
unpleasant surprises you just don’t need on moving day.
So, how can you spot a pest problem when
viewing a property?
Tip 1 – Breathe In
May sound odd but your nose is your first
tool to use in the fight against pests in and around the home. In empty
properties, the smell can be quite pungent so what are you ‘smelling’ for? A
musty smell is a clue that pests lurk within, with some, like cockroaches,
giving off a pungent ‘musty’ smell. If your nose sniffs out an unusually and
unpleasant smell, take a closer look.
Tip 2 – Scan the
room
Pests like mice and insects will scurry
quickly from one place to another, all in a vain attempt not to be spotted. If
you see something out of the corner of your eye, it could be a pest making for
cover. Some pests favour the dark too so quickly flick the light on to see if
you spot anything.
Tip 3 – Spot the
signs
Pests tend not to have clean toilet habits
with many, like rats and mice, being continually
doubly incontinent. Keep an eye out for droppings on the floor and any
furniture in the room, as well as smears of ‘faecal matter’ – this could be the
droppings of cockroaches etc.
Tip 4 – Know your
pests
Not all pests like warmth and humidity,
with some preferring colder spaces. It pays to know your pests so in the
bedroom keep an eye out for smears around electrical sockets and an ‘odd’ musty
smell which could indicate bed bugs. In cellars, keep an eye out for rats and
mice, as well as a species of cockroach that prefers dank spaces. In the
kitchen, keep your eyes peeled for cockroaches that thrive on heat and so on.
Tip 5 – Take a look
outside
Where there are piles of rubbish, there is
the perfect habitat for some kinds of pests to nest or breed. These pests might
not necessarily be injurious to health, but no one wants to share their garden
or outdoor space with an unwanted creature, whether that’s a cute family of
field mice or buzzing bees.
Tip 6 – Is the
place ‘looked after’?
Some pests are attracted to homes no matter
how clean or ‘dirty’ they are: for example, the common cat flea loves centrally
heated homes whether there are pets there or not and the carpet beetle chews on
natural fibres, even if the home is squeaky clean.
But some are attracted to where there is litter and detritus. If the property you are
viewing, whether to buy or rent, looks and feels looked after, then the
likelihood of pests is low. Buy
