When you purchase a house, there are dozens of important things to track and handle as they come up.

One of the most important is getting a home inspection before the purchase. The house could have major issues such as foundation concerns, electrical problems or AC system trouble.

Even if all of those check out fine, it’s important to look at several other points that could impact your new living space.

Here are a few pest control issues to be aware of on a new home purchase:

1. Grading around the house. Previous owners typically do not maintain the grading in terms of soil erosion around the structure. Most homeowners just do not keep track of that or add soil to maintain a proper slope away from the house for drainage. As a result, a home inspector commonly notes this deficiency during an inspection.

   Even though it is common, it is still important to fix. A properly graded area around the foundation will keep moisture away from the house. This is important, and not just for structural issues. That’s because when moisture collects near a home, so do pests! They need water and in those constantly damp areas, they can live and multiply and then get into your house. This is also true if leaves or debris are present. So even if the area is graded properly, keeping it clean and free of debris is crucial.

   By properly grading those spots — and removing leaves and debris regularly — you will keep the area dry and more pest-free.

2. Sealing around windows and doors. Most home inspections will note if there are gaps around doors or issues with window seals. These are of course vital to keep the home efficient and not have out-of-control cooling or heating costs. But there is also the factor of pests. The more openings there are the easier it is for insects to enter. And while it is impossible to keep out all insects due to how small they are and how easily they can find tiny openings, you can limit it with proper weather stripping. Start with just replacing weather stripping around doors, then make sure windows, both inside and out, are caulked and sealed properly. As an added improvement, door sweeps at the bottom of a front or back door are helpful in blocking these common entry points.
3. Plumbing issues. Naturally, if the home has any plumbing leaks, inside or out, you need these handled before purchasing or to get them fixed quickly after you move in. No one wants to pay for water they aren’t even using! But there is another factor with plumbing leaks, leaky faucets or dripping hose bibs — they can all attract pests! All manner of bugs will look for water both inside and outside the home. If you have a leak behind a bathtub, for instance, that area can become a breeding ground for roaches. Getting water leaks detected and handled immediately is vital to having a happy, healthy home.

4. Termite damage. It’s always a good idea to have a termite inspection done prior to a home purchase. Even if the seller says that there isn’t any termite damage, have a professional inspect it! There can be numerous areas that can have unseen activity. There may be conducive conditions that you will want to handle.

   One example is related to the grading point above. If the soil is up too high on the foundation, that makes it very easy for termites to find their way into home structure. On the other hand, past damage doesn’t always mean an ongoing problem. The owners could have properly treated it and there are no more concerns. Either way, a thorough inspection will confirm and help you rest easy.

Getting problem areas fixed before you move in to a house is a crucial part of the home purchase process. After you get your home inspection completed, look over these points with an eye towards potential pest issues.

Call us at 512-443-0123 or use our online form for a fast, free quote to handle existing pests in your house.