Signs of pest damage to look for during an inspection include droppings, gnaw marks, structural damage like hollow or sagging wood, nests, mud tubes, grease trails, unexplained noises (scratching, scurrying), unusual odors, and visible pests or their carcasses/wings. These signs suggest different pests, such as rodents, termites, or insects, and can compromise a home's integrity, requiring a professional pest inspection for assessment and mitigation.
Visual Signs
Pest Droppings: Small pellet-like droppings, often found in dark corners or along walls.
Gnaw Marks: Evidence of chewing on wood, furniture, walls, or electrical wires.
Holes & Tunnels: Exit holes, tunnels in wood, or holes in clothing and fabric.
Nests & Burrows: Visible nests made of twigs, insulation, or other materials.
Mud Tubes: Slimy, mud-like tubes on the exterior of a house, a strong indicator of termites.
Grease Trails: Dark, greasy smudges along walls where pests, especially rodents, travel repeatedly.
Damaged Property: Holes in clothes, upholstery, damaged food packaging, or weakened flooring.
Dead Bugs & Wings: Finding insect carcasses, shed wings, or dead bugs inside the home.
Auditory & Olfactory Signs
Unexplained Noises:
Scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds from within walls or ceilings, often indicating rodents.
Unusual Odors:
A musty, moldy, or ammonia-like smell (rodents) or a foul, rotting odor from dead pests.
Structural Signs
Hollow Wood:
Tapping on wooden surfaces and hearing a hollow sound or finding soft, spongy wood.
Sagging Floors or Walls:
Signs of structural weakening caused by pests like termites, which hollow out wood from the inside.
Bubbling Paint:
In some cases, bubbling paint on walls or cracks can indicate termite activity.
Where to Look
Attics and Basements: Pests often hide in these dark, undisturbed areas.
Crawl Spaces: Another common hiding place where structural damage may occur.
Around Foundations: Look for mud tubes or damage to wooden decks and fence posts.
Inside Walls: Listen for noises and look for entry points like cracks near doors and walls.ere to Look
Visual Signs
Pest Droppings: Small pellet-like droppings, often found in dark corners or along walls.
Gnaw Marks: Evidence of chewing on wood, furniture, walls, or electrical wires.
Holes & Tunnels: Exit holes, tunnels in wood, or holes in clothing and fabric.
Nests & Burrows: Visible nests made of twigs, insulation, or other materials.
Mud Tubes: Slimy, mud-like tubes on the exterior of a house, a strong indicator of termites.
Grease Trails: Dark, greasy smudges along walls where pests, especially rodents, travel repeatedly.
Damaged Property: Holes in clothes, upholstery, damaged food packaging, or weakened flooring.
Dead Bugs & Wings: Finding insect carcasses, shed wings, or dead bugs inside the home.
Auditory & Olfactory Signs
Unexplained Noises:
Scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds from within walls or ceilings, often indicating rodents.
Unusual Odors:
A musty, moldy, or ammonia-like smell (rodents) or a foul, rotting odor from dead pests.
Structural Signs
Hollow Wood:
Tapping on wooden surfaces and hearing a hollow sound or finding soft, spongy wood.
Sagging Floors or Walls:
Signs of structural weakening caused by pests like termites, which hollow out wood from the inside.
Bubbling Paint:
In some cases, bubbling paint on walls or cracks can indicate termite activity.
Where to Look
Attics and Basements: Pests often hide in these dark, undisturbed areas.
Crawl Spaces: Another common hiding place where structural damage may occur.
Around Foundations: Look for mud tubes or damage to wooden decks and fence posts.
Inside Walls: Listen for noises and look for entry points like cracks near doors and walls.ere to Look
