5 Ways Pests Devalue Your Home or Commercial Property

Whether you’re in the process of selling your property or simply a property owner dedicated to upkeep, pest control is key to maintaining your property’s value and habitability. Because the value of your home is based on many factors, including its condition at the time of sale, pests such as rodents, termites, or roaches can not only make living or conducting business within your property an unpleasant hazard, but also hinder a sale.

Here are five ways a pest infestation can devalue your property.

1. Structural Damage

Rodents, termites, and carpenter ants are a few of the pests that cause significant damage to properties. From weakened beams and joists to chewed electrical wires and damaged insulation, the cost of repairing this structural damage can lower the value of your home by as much as 9 percent. The damage caused by pests will be taken into account by an appraiser and inspector, giving your buyers a bargaining chip when sealing the deal. If the damage is extensive enough, a buyer could decide to pass on your home when compared to others they’ve seen.

2. Telltale Signs

Nothing turns a buyer off more than walking into a home that has visible signs of an infestation. Seeing a small mouse hole on the side of an electric outlet, evidence of moths in the pantry, or a roach scurrying by turns a buyer off. Even if the infestation is in the past, it sends a message of unwholesomeness. And, buyers also wonder if the house is vulnerable to re-infestations.

3. Loss of Realtor Interest

Once realtors know your home has a pest problem, they will be less likely to show it to their clients, as it will not only be a waste of their time, but also reflect badly on them.

4. Perceived Vulnerabilities

Old siding, aging roof and gutters, overgrown shrubs, cracks in the foundation, and standing water are signs that the property is vulnerable to an infestation. These are the things that both invite pests to the property and allow them easy access.

5. Increased Renovation Costs

To a potential buyer, a pest infestation can mean increased renovation costs. They will also take into account the amount of time these renovations may take and the difficulty of living in the home while this work is underway.

Make Pest Removal a Priority

Many of today’s buyers are looking for properties that are turnkey, whether it’s a single-family or multi-family home . As a result, they may be willing to consider making upgrades that better suit their taste and style, but not those necessary because of an infestation.

If you are considering selling your home, call Ecola at 800 471-BUGS (2847) to schedule a free inspection. Should your home need pest removal, ask us about our eco-friendly pest removal and other alternative pest control solutions that are family- and pet-friendly. Imagine being able to show potential buyers a clean bill of health so they can move forward with purchasing your home with confidence and excitement.