Pest or not, buying a house can be quite stressful. Lawn size, a leaky roof, frozen water lines are only some of the many things you need to check before you can say yes to the deal. And frankly, these are also easy to spot. The moment you enter a property, most of these issues look right into your face and are simple enough to detect and resolve.

However, most buyers ignore one of the biggest issues while house-hunting – pests! Ironically, while you can easily repair a loose floorboard or two, it is a task to rid the house of pesky little rodents or termites!

So, if you are in the market for a new house, read more to find out the top 6 (obscure) signs of a pest infestation that you should add to your house-check list.

House Check Essentials for Pest Infestations

• Obvious Signs of Active Pests

Let’s start with the basics. While there’s hardly a chance that you’d stumble upon a termite nest or a family of mice running about the attic when you visit the house, you should do your research on the common pests in the area and their hiding spots. Actively look for living pests on the property (including the front and back yards) and their dead relatives.

• Check For Droppings

Pests never clean up after themselves! If there’s an infestation, there are high chances that there are droppings all over the place. Research on how common droppings look like (including eggs and coat shedding).

• Spot Nesting Spots

Unlike bird nests, there’s nothing novel about rodent nests. They make use of anything and everything, including cardboard boxes, shoes, old clothes, paper, etc. Warm, dark corners of the house are their favorite nesting spots. So, use your flashlight to do a thorough check. Don’t forget to check inside cabinets or under washbasins!

• Used Bottles of Pest Control Chemicals

If you see products that people use for pest control lying around the house, you can be pretty sure that the place has (or had) a problem with pests. In such a situation, ramp up for pest check and speak to the previous owners or tenants to get a clear picture of how bad the problem was.

• Keep Your Ears and Nose Open

If you smell or hear something off-putting, there’s a high chance of a pest issue in the house. Rats and mice are notoriously famous for running around cabinets and dropping stuff while scurrying away. Another thing to watch out for is a ‘dead animal’ smell.

• Watch Out for Wood Damage (Termite Infestation)

Termites are one of the worst of the lot that eat all day long and stop at nothing. Shaky floorboards, wooden chaffs, holes, and their droppings are some of the telltale signs of a termite infestation.

Summing Up

Whether you are buying a property or simply looking to rent one, it is very important to do a thorough pest check before putting in a quote. Here’s hoping these six tips will help you choose the right, pest-free house in no time.