The neighbors said she called a well known pest control company once a week to get rid of the spiders. Mice were also a problem. There were scorpions as well. She finally moved away. She probably got out just in time to avoid the mosquito infestations brought on by the heavy spring and early summer rains. All the other lawns in the neighborhood are infested with gophers, moles, and a wide variety of insects and weeds.

A meager attempt to install a poorly planned lawn was hastily put into motion, the touch up work done, a real estate sign placed in the yard, and the home promptly placed back on the market, awaiting the next victim.

This is a true story!

Let me give you an idea of the surroundings: The home faced South, to the street and other homes, and the North side was a once bulldozed, overgrown 4 or 5 acre stretch of swampy weedy, brushy, rodent infested, well, you get the picture. It would have been better had the dozer work stopped at the edge of the new home. One neighbor describes the scene as looking like something out of the Tim Burton film “The Nightmare Before Christmas!”

The home was inspected for lead paint, for termites, for asbestos, all the little areas of concern that a potential home buyer needs to consider. Well, almost all.

Termite inspection, and standard environmental inspection is not enough! To take a really good look, to get a real assessment of real estate, requires a look at a lot more! The wider environment of the home and it’s location should be taken into account.

When you buy a home, it has probably been inspected at each stage of its development. It may have even had an environmental inspection, but has it been inspected for potential pest problems? Yeah, I know you had the traditional termite inspection, but termites are only one part of the pest equation. It is better to be proactive!

How to use this list:

There are several items on the list which are “fleshed out” below, followed by a checklist of those items and a lot more things for you to check.

Whether you are buying a home, or, buying property on which to build a home. There may be some pitfalls that you wouldn’t normally think about. Don’t let bugs and weeds suck all the joy out of owning a home. Read this, and take action!

This is a checklist for the potential home buyer. It might even convince you that the home you are considering is not for you! If that happens, it is better to know that now than before the mortgage papers are signed and the mosquitoes return.

That is a good place to start, mosquitoes.

1. If the home or home site is close to a mosquito infested swamp, it might be a good idea to get out before the wife sees the granite counter-tops. There are some things that you can’t do much about, and draining the swamp is probably one of them. The same is true for other areas, that you would probably stay clear of for other reasons. Sewer treatment plants, slaughterhouses and various other places. Live to fight another day, and see what else there is on the market.

2. What are the immediate surroundings like. Is the property flanked by overgrown, or freshly mowed, but obviously once overgrown land. Get the impression that it was mowed solely for this showing? Weeds hide vermin and bugs, plus, they are “weeds.” Will the owner of the adjoining property be willing to keep it up to the standards that you require? If not, you will have a constant, almost unseen struggle with field mice, and insects, and they will eventually, find a way inside.

3. In the wider area, is there anything that would be likely to breed or feed an infestation of any unwanted critters. Vermin and insects will travel, and they might just travel to your place for a vacation from the elements.

4. Look at the lawn area, are there low spots which show evidence that the area holds water, and might make a fine breeding ground for mosquitoes? If so, is it something you can deal with, is there a way to drain or fill the area, will you need professional assistance?

5. Are there piles of debris, dead trees, brush piles nearby? They will be hiding places for bugs.

6. Are there screens over eve vents, soffit vents and other vent areas to prevent invaders from making their way inside?

7. Are doors and windows properly sealed? Is the weather striping in good condition? Are the door sweeps completely to the floor and the sides of the doors? Are all pipes, conduits, cable and electrical entries well sealed? Look at both the inside and the outside of the home with these things in mind.

8. Are the shrubs against the side of the home? They should be at least a foot away. So should any mulch. How about the trees, are they well trimmed and far enough away from the roof to prevent damage and the occasional squirrel from the roof?

9. Does the yard have weeds, or sand burs? This is a sign of bad cultural practices. There is a good chance that this might be the tip of the iceberg. If so, can it be taken care of, how, and by whom?

10. You will want to check out the conditions of your streets, and drives. If they are not well maintained, there is a chance that they never will be. Weeds growing through concrete and asphalt, are a very destructive. They should be stopped , and prevented from returning, or they can eat a driveway in just a few years.

11.Trees growing into power lines and communications lines will have to be pruned, and if the electric company or cable company have the work done, it will most likely be done improperly from the tree and homeowners perspective. This will lead to disease and pests. If this situation exists, it will need to be solved by removing the tree and planting replacements well away from the lines, or the trees pruned by a skillful arborist to provide clearance without damage to the trees.

12. Check trees near the house. Are roots rising from the ground? Are they growing toward the home? Are there any minor cracks or loose mortar joints nearby? This could be a signal that the tree is tearing down the house a little at a time.

13. Erosion. Check for it, if it is there, can it be stopped? If it can be stopped, will the methods used produce more problems with bugs and weeds? Eroded areas rarely have good soil conditions for growing anything but weeds, and if they are washing out now, it will be difficult to keep them from washing away the re-constructed lawn.

14. Weep holes. Are there vines growing into them, or that could grow into them? Are they clear of debris and dirt. Blocked weep holes won’t let the condensate out of your wall cavities, and air into them. I have seen mold problems develop from this. This is usually accompanied by insect problems.

I5. Are there existing “problem plants?” If there is kudzu growing along the creek bank behind the homes wooden fence, it is only a matter of time before it grows into the fence and into your lawn and landscape!

16. Look at the existing outdoor lighting. Some types of lighting, placed over lawns, will fuel an invasion of June beetles. The June beetles will leave behind eggs which will become grubs, the grubs will be a tasty treat for moles and armadillos, which will dig up your lawn and landscape.

Pest control checklist

The 50 items listed below, are some of the things you should be looking for. I will flesh the list out as time permits. Just use the more detailed items above as an an indicator of how to look at all of them. You will have a pretty good idea of what your insect and weed situation would be like if you were living there.

50 Point Checklist

Roof:

1. Gutters,
2. Vent caps,
3. Vent screens,
4. Eve vents, are they screened?
5. Trees far enough away from house?

Home General:

6. Vines around house?
7. Tree roots close to house?
8. Weep holes free of soil and vines?
9. Shrubs far enough away?
10. Lines free from limbs and vines?
11. Windows sealed inside and out?
12. Doors sealed inside and out?
13. Weather strip good?
14. Door sweeps good?
15. Sealed around inlets for plumbing?
16. Electrical sealed?
17. Cable sealed?
18. Dryer vents screened?
19. Ventahood screened?
20. Loose or missing mortar?
21. Cracks in brick or slab near trees?
22. Sealed windows and doors inside?
23. Sealed plumbing electrical inside?
24. Weather stripping inside doors?

Lawn and landscape:

25. Weeds?
26. Vines in bad spots? (windows, electric lines etc)
27. Shrubs clear of house?
28. Clear of debris?
29. Rotting wood?
30. Condition of adjacent property?
31. Right of ways?
32. Streets and drives?
33. Erosion?
34. Outbuildings condition and placement?
35. Patios?
36. Shade?
37. Light?
38. Heat?
39. Airflow?
40. Existing bugs?
41. Existing weeds?
42. Existing problem plants?
44. Rodent damage?
45. Street lighting?

Lakes and ponds:

46. Existing weeds and other problems? What type are they?

Adjacent areas, within 300 feet. ROW etc:

47. Maintained?
48. Weed free?
49. Brush free?
50. Swamp free?

Big picture:

What are the Conditions like within a mile of the home?