---
title: "New Home Inspection & Maintenance for Pest Prevention"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/1199f5a5-05a6-4c85-a8f8-a4e5d1bac8b5
source_url: "https://www.orkin.com/new-homeowner"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/home/stack/c017dbea-c795-4891-8ae2-2edc08a5a52f
summary: "New homeowner pest prevention guide provides a comprehensive checklist for inspecting properties and identifying common pest problems before and after purchase. The content covers indoor and outdoor inspection tips, warning signs of pest infestations, and post-move-in protective measures to safeguard your home."
tags: "pest-prevention, new-homeowner, home-inspection, pest-control, property-checklist, termites, rodents"
key_entities: "Orkin (organization), pest-control (concept), home-inspection (concept), termites (concept), bed-bugs (concept), rodents (concept), cockroaches (concept), wood-boring-beetles (concept)"
classification: "checklist"
content_hash: "sha256:e2aaa875f4fb8049e158c618383476b15b3c6aae4da9142c0faae78ef3610260"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 1136
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# New Home Inspection & Maintenance for Pest Prevention

Skip to Content GET A QUOTE NEW HOMEOWNER PEST PREVENTION Congratulations on taking the final steps in choosing a new home! This is a milestone and should be celebrated accordingly — after it passes the new home checklist for pest prevention and pest control, that is. Save Money & Plan Ahead Consider Pests When Considering Homes We totally get it; you're more concerned about the square footage and amenities. However, understanding the nuances of pest control in new construction or homes on the market will save you a lot of headaches, not to mention a lot of money down the line. Home inspectors aren’t required to determine the presence of pests. Therefore, we recommend having your home pre-treated for local pests by an experienced pest management professional. PEST CONTROL TIPS New Homeowner Checklist Because there’s so much to consider, we’ve compiled a checklist of pest control tips you should carefully follow during your home maintenance property tour. Open House Opportunity Inspecting a Potential Property Indoors Unused chimneys can become homes for wasps, hornets, birds, bats, raccoons and squirrels. Don’t neglect the attic! Shredded cardboard, paper, insulation or rodent droppings signal a pest presence in the attic. Look for tiny brown stains littering the wallpaper, baseboards, or around electrical sockets, particularly in the bedroom. This could be a telltale sign of bed bugs. Cockroaches love moisture, so be wary of leaky pipes or warped flooring. Have you tapped the walls and heard hollowed-out wood? Termites or wood-boring beetles may have already moved in. Check for cracks and gaps within the building’s foundation or siding since rodent and insect pests need only a ½ inch or less gap to get inside. Also, look for holes located in the ground alongside concrete slabs or the foundation, which mean rabbits, groundhogs or some other animal has constructed a subterranean den under the house. Dark and moist basement? That’s a favorite for rodents, cockroaches, and spiders that like to nest in corners. Outdoors Is the lawn pristine? Great! However, if your neighbors' lawn is overgrown, that could mean potential pest problems for you both. They say good fences make good neighbors, but termites and wood-boring beetles can make homes in wood fences and wood mulch that is too thick for good drainage. Also, avoid exclusively thick mulch next to the home’s foundation. Pool? Make sure the water is circulated, clean and drained during the seasons when the pool is unused. Debris and containers that hold water make favorable conditions for breeding mosquitoes. Ensure any wooden porches or decks don’t have signs of buckling wood — it could be an early sign of a termite or a wood fungus infestation. Love the flora and fauna? Beware, overgrown vegetation is a favorite hiding spot for ticks. Have your inspector make sure any excess wood (including stumps) are removed from your property before taking ownership. Starting off right Already Moved In If you've already moved in, don't worry. You can retroactively protect yourself against pests even after you've signed the papers and unrolled the welcome mat. However, don’t wait too long before checking these cautionary measures off your “to do” list. Seal windows Clean gutters Move wood mulch away from the house Check for plumbing leaks Seal gaps around pipes Cover vent openings with wire mesh Clear and clean the attic Trim low hanging trees Remove piles of leaves and tree limbs, which create habitat for ticks and other pests. Install door sweeps Position gutter downspouts to direct water away from your foundation Dispose of empty cardboard boxes Surprise guests A Welcome Home For You, Not Pests In the busy days of moving in and unpacking, it's easy to forget things like setting up a recurring inspections. Let Orkin worry about the pests while you create your new space. It’s easier to evict unwelcome pests before they’ve rolled out the red carpet and made your new house their permanent home. Ensure your first visitors aren't ants The Orkin Guarantee Your Satisfaction Guaranteed — or Your Money Back With free touch-up visits and a money back guarantee , keeping your home and business safe and providing peace of mind is what we do best. Learn more about the Orkin Guarantee for home and business 125+ Years in Business 400+ Locations Worldwide 160 Hours of Training Get a quote today Eliminate pests and prevent future problems. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 877-819-5061