Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you'll make during your lifetime,  so getting a professional inspection is a small but vital step in the process.

There are many unseen pests that can destroy your home and most buyers don't know what signs to look for. A pest inspection is performed prior to the closing on the sale and entails searching for termites and similar pests that cause damage to the structure of the property. A professional pest control company will know precisely where to check and what signs to look for during the inspection. The inspector might discover other pests while there but their inspection is specific to wood-damaging organisms. To give you an idea, here are examples of the damage some common pests can do:

• Cockroaches: These invasive pests tend to live in dark, warm places indoors and are known to carry diseases. They leave a trail of debris including droppings and egg casings.

• Carpenter Ants: These pests cause structural damage by infesting structures. They create smooth tunneling throughout the wood, where they also build their nests.

• Rodents: These pests can carry dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans. They also cause damage to the property by gnawing on wires within walls and nesting in household items.

• Silverfish: These pests will eat a wide range of items that include packaged food, fabrics, paper, and even materials like glue. They tend to hide in closets, basements, and bookcases.

If pest problems are identified during the inspection, a plan will need to be implemented for treatment and repairs before moving forward with the home-buying process. Conducting a pre-purchase pest inspection is required by some lenders and necessary so the future home buyer will know all about the existence of a pest problem — this also allows for scheduling annual pest inspections to ensure there are no recurrences.

If there are pests, you can negotiate with the seller to reduce the price of the house to cover what you will spend on pest control. You can even ask for seller concessions to offset the potential costs. Better yet, you can request that they complete residential pest control and give you a pest-free house before you get to the closing table. A pest inspection gives you the negotiating power and ensures you pay a fair price.

There could also be hidden issues in the house that may not be visible during the first inspection. Pest and pre-purchase building inspections will reveal all such problems, providing you with a complete overall picture of the investment.

These inspections help in identifying issues in the materials or construction of the house and highlight potential pest problems so that you can make an informed purchasing decision based on the inspection reports before closing on the property.

With all the possibilities of an invasive, destructive infestation of any number of pests it's certainly a good idea to contact your local pest control company to set up an inspection before purchasing. Spence’s Pest Control is your trusted local pest company and we are here to assist with all of your pest control needs.