How can you use a pest inspection to assess the risk of pest infestation?

Pest inspections also tells you about property drainage that could lead to further problems, any dry rot, even structural, mold, and roof issues that could be issues down the road.

A pest inspection is crucial for assessing the risk of infestation, including pests like cockroaches. Exterior checks look for entry points and conditions favoring roaches, such as standing water. Inspectors examine foundations for cracks and signs of roach activity. Interior assessments focus on kitchens and bathrooms, where roaches thrive, searching for droppings, egg cases, and other indicators. Specialized tools like flashlights aid in uncovering hidden infestations. Crawl spaces and attics are inspected for conducive conditions. Landscaping is considered a potential roach attraction. Reports provide insights into current issues, potential risks, and preventive measures, ensuring early detection and cost-effective pest control.

Pest Inspection Quick Guide: Exterior Check: Assess landscaping and building exterior. Inspect foundation for damage or openings. Interior Inspection: Check living spaces for signs of pests. Look for droppings, nests, or gnaw marks. Moisture Check: Identify and fix leaks or moisture issues. Ensure proper ventilation. Documentation: Record findings and suggest solutions. Review past pest control measures. Report and Consultation: Compile a detailed report. Discuss findings and recommendations. Preventive Advice: Seal potential entry points. Recommend corrective actions. Swift pest inspections for proactive prevention.

Bottom line…being proactive with pest inspections prevents larger problems from occurring. It’s also a great way to take care of your residents. Routine pest control visits weekly are key. When they visit your property, ensure there is a list for random inspections but also any problem areas you can assist residents with. Helping prevent common problems like ants can go a long way with resident retention.

A great best practice is to have pest inspections as a part of your move out process. This ensures that no known pest problems are there for a new resident. If there is an issue, you can schedule a treatment from your pest control company as soon as possible. And if this is a part of your standard move out policy, you can charge the vacating resident for the treatment costs. This is especially beneficial for issues where more expensive treatments are necessary such as bed bugs.

We started doing an initial inspection/treatment for pests after the apartment was turned. This gave us a baseline of having some documentation of the unit being inspected and treated prior to move in. Our next step was training our site teams to identify specific pests that may be plaguing our communities. Our third step is ensuring that we have language in our lease that enforces strict compliance with the residence during a pest infestation and treatment. This three prong approach has allowed us to reduce costs, and give us better peace of mind and help us in court, if we’ve ever needed to challenge or get access to a unit or to mitigate risks.

A larger more thorough annual inspection is of great benefit when you are selling, purchasing or changing management of an apartment community. It’s important to know what major issues are occurring and the estimated costs to rectify.