FREE HOMEOWNER STARTER GUIDE
Start Here: Your First Home Pest Inspection
Before buying a pesticide or expensive sprayer, find out what pest you have, why it is there, and how it is getting inside.
Five Steps Before You Treat
1. Identify the pest
Check its size, color, location, and activity. Take a clear photograph if possible. Different pests require different approaches.
2. Find food, water, and shelter
Check for crumbs, open food, pet food, leaking pipes, standing water, clutter, and damp areas.
3. Walk the perimeter
Inspect door sweeps, garage seals, window screens, utility penetrations, foundation cracks, roofline gaps, and branches touching the home.
4. Choose prevention first
Clean, dry, trim, screen, seal, and monitor. For mice, prioritize exclusion and appropriate trapping. For German cockroaches, focus on sanitation, monitoring, and targeted bait placement where permitted.
5. Decide whether treatment is appropriate
If a pesticide is needed, verify that its label permits the target pest, location, and application method. Follow every PPE and safety direction. Call a licensed professional for hazardous nests, difficult infestations, or work outside your experience.
Simple Inspection Checklist
☐ Kitchen cabinets, pantry, and under-sink plumbing
☐ Bathrooms and laundry areas
☐ Garage door edges and exterior doors
☐ Windows, screens, and utility entry points
☐ Foundation, shrubs, gutters, and standing water
☐ Pest evidence photographed or recorded
Educational information only. Always follow product labeling and applicable local rules.
