4 Advantages Of Independent Pest Inspections When Purchasing A Property

Purchasing property is one of the biggest investments that an individual will make in their lifetime. A great deal of time and thought goes into every single aspect of the purchase, from the initial search to the finishing touches. That’s why, as much as it is able, there are so many processes in place to protect both the buyer and seller from financial loss or misrepresentation. One of these processes is a property inspection. By hiring an expert to inspect the property, you mitigate much of the loss and risk associated with entering into a sale uninformed.

The thinking is that the inspector will catch any damage or potential for damage, and anything else that may be hazardous or costly for the future investor. Though it is conducted separately, a key aspect of this inspection process and general pre-purchase due diligence is a professional pest inspection. Whether it be cockroaches or termites, pests can pose a huge threat to future investments. Mandated in many areas, the savvy investor should always schedule an independent pest inspection before signing any sale documents.

Here are 4 of the advantages of initiating an independent pest inspection when purchasing a property.

1.   Adjust Property Cost

One of the most obvious ways an independent pest inspection can affect a property sale is its financial impact. Both a home and pest inspection are used to protect and adjust the price tag of the investment. When selling, current property owners are always trying to get the highest price they can for their real estate. Though there are indeed fees associated with pest inspections, the pros far outweigh the cons.

By conducting an independent inspection, prospective buyers can protect themselves from an overpayment, and use inspection findings as leverage to drive the price down. If the findings of an inspection are extremely negative, the price adjustment may be severe and can lead to significant savings. If the valuation is incongruous with the findings of an inspection, the buyer can choose to renegotiate the selling price or walk away from the property.

2.   Protect Against Infestation

The whole purpose of a rodent or pest inspection is identification. Simply put, conducting a pre-purchase inspection will alert you to any active infestations, their size, and the length of the pest activities. Though infestations are not always found, and certainly not with any frequency, finding a problem early will help influence your next steps. The likelihood of seeing significant pest issues in the potential property will differ greatly based on your location, season, and construction materials of the property.

If an active infestation is uncovered, steps can be taken to get rid of the pest problem before the sale goes through. This will safeguard your family’s health or the health of future employees. If evidence is found that pests could be congregating, catching the signs early will help aid in prevention- negating the need for extermination altogether.

3.   Uncover Damage or Defects

Something that isn’t immediately evident when contemplating a pest inspection, is the impact certain pests have on the structural integrity of a building. If you are left in the dark about an infestation, particularly if the pests are harmful or invasive, it can mean the property is no longer safe. Even if it is still currently passable, some pests will degrade a building over time or cause property defects.

That’s why hiring a professional independent pest inspector is a must in these scenarios, and can be read about in greater detail at this website. A perfect example of the damage an unchecked infestation can have would be the havoc that termites can wreak on just about any building. If a termite problem goes undiagnosed and unresolved, it could mean thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in property damage, and it might even render the building unsafe.

4.   Extermination Ease

Aside from the preventative advantages, there are some very practical reasons why an independent pest inspection can save time and money. If a need is found to go forward with extermination, having already sought out a pest inspection can help in numerous ways. For starters, the pest inspectors will be able to give you a professional opinion when it comes to quotes for the cost of extermination based on the magnitude of the issues found. Though it may be tempting to try and deal with the problem yourself, hiring an exterminator is the best course of action for ensuring your property and investment remains unharmed.

In addition to this, an independent pest inspector will be able to give you a good deal if you choose to use their services for extermination. Many independents will waive the extermination fee if a need for extermination is uncovered, which can be extremely beneficial if you decide that as a purchaser you will be covering that cost. The norm for who covers which inspections and which repairs vary from place to place, but is easily found by inquiring with your realtor or local housing resources.

Whether it be from damage or active infestation, skipping over a pest inspection can be extremely detrimental for a potential property purchaser. Due to the regulated nature of home inspections, it’s easy to see how someone might think they’ve done all they need to do after they’ve completed their initial inspection. However, the truth of the matter is that an independently booked pest inspection will investigate areas that a typical home inspection will not. By evaluating the risk-factor, the property’s price, and the potential for financial and structural loss, it is plain to see just how many advantages a pest inspection can offer.

If a fee upfront has you at all nervous or concerned, try examining the long-term impact that negligence in the purchasing stage might have. Safeguarding your health, belongings, time, and money are all advantages of finding a pest issue before you take ownership of a property. By considering the 4 major advantages as discussed above, it becomes clear that a pest inspection is a non-negotiable when looking into purchasing your first or next property.