Wondering what happens during a professional pest inspection? Here is exactly what a thorough inspection covers and what information you should receive afterward.
A pest inspection is more than a quick walkthrough. A thorough inspection covers areas most homeowners never examine and is often how serious problems are caught before they become expensive. Here is what to expect when a technician from The Bugs Stop Here inspects your Long Island or Westchester home.
The inspection typically begins outside. A thorough exterior inspection covers: the foundation for visible cracks and termite mud tubes, the roofline and soffits for gaps that could allow wildlife or insects entry, window and door frames for deteriorated caulking and damaged screens, landscaping for mulch proximity to the foundation, and moisture conditions including grade slope and standing water in gutters.
Kitchen and bathrooms: Under sinks, around appliances, inside cabinet corners, behind the refrigerator and stove, and around plumbing penetrations. These moisture-rich areas are the first places cockroaches, ants, and silverfish establish themselves.
Basement and crawl space: Exposed wood for termite activity including mud tubes, galleries, and frass; moisture conditions; insulation condition; and visible pest activity along foundation walls.
Attic: Insulation condition and signs of wildlife disturbance, droppings, nesting material, and structural wood for termite or carpenter ant activity. The attic is also where bats most commonly roost.
A thorough pest inspection should result in a written report including: all findings with both active pest activity and conducive conditions, photographs of significant findings, recommended treatment options with clear pricing, and recommendations for property conditions you can address yourself.
If an inspector finishes a walkthrough without providing any written documentation, that is a red flag. The Bugs Stop Here offers free pest inspections across Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, The Bronx, and Rockland County. Call to schedule.
For the average Long Island or Westchester home a thorough general pest inspection takes 30 to 60 minutes. A full termite inspection including crawl space and attic access can take 60 to 90 minutes.
Yes — the inspector needs access to all areas including the attic, basement, crawl space, and all interior rooms. Having the homeowner present allows us to ask about where activity has been noticed.
That is great news. A clean inspection gives you a baseline and peace of mind. If we find conducive conditions without active infestation we will note them so you can address them before they become problems.
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