[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-what-we-look-for-when-we-suspect-termites-or-pests\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-what-we-look-for-when-we-suspect-termites-or-pests\/","headline":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): What We Look for When We Suspect Termites or Pests","name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): What We Look for When We Suspect Termites or Pests","description":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): What We Look for When We Suspect Termites or Pests One of the most misunderstood parts of a home inspection? Pest and rodent activity. I get asked all the time, \u201cAre you inspecting for termites?\u201d or \u201cDid you check for mice?\u201d Let me be clear\u2014we\u2019re not licensed pest control operators. We don\u2019t do pest inspections. But\u2026 That doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re not paying attention. I Know What Trouble Looks Like When I inspect a home, I\u2019m always watching for the evidence of pest or wildlife activity: Rodent droppings in attics, garages, or under sinks Bird nests in soffits or eaves Animal urine stains on insulation Gnawed wires, disturbed ductwork, or chewed-through flashing Termite tunnels (mud tubes), wood rot, or wood that sounds hollow when tapped But unless the critter walks across my boot during the inspection, I can\u2019t \u201cverify\u201d that it\u2019s actively present\u2014or guarantee that they\u2019re not somewhere I can\u2019t access. Snapshot vs. Guarantee This is where the \u201cSnapshot\u201d part of the inspection really matters. We take video footage of the attic, crawlspace, and other key areas. It shows exactly what I saw, on the day I was there. One time, I found a wide-open gable vent in an attic. It wasn\u2019t sealed, and I documented it clearly in the report. Four months later, the owner had squirrels in the attic and was convinced I \u201cmissed\u201d them. But I didn\u2019t. I warned them they were likely to get rodents if the access wasn\u2019t sealed. That video proved it\u2014and our client was protected. What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: visible evidence of past or present pest, rodent, or termite activity\u2014and signs that entry points exist. \u274c I\u2019m not: doing a licensed pest inspection, testing for hidden infestations, or guaranteeing that a space is pest-free. Even if I don\u2019t see activity, I\u2019ll still point out areas where wildlife or bugs could easily enter. I\u2019ll flag ventilation gaps, wood-to-earth contact, and any organic debris up against the home\u2014all things that create perfect conditions for pests. FAQs: Pest & Termite Observations Do home inspectors check for termites? We\u2019re not performing a licensed termite inspection. But we\u2019ll note visual signs like mud tubes or damage. If we see something suspicious, we\u2019ll recommend a pest control follow-up. What happens if pests show up after the inspection? That\u2019s not unusual. Activity can begin or become visible after we\u2019re gone. Our report reflects the condition on the day of the inspection. That\u2019s why maintenance and sealing up entry points is critical. Can you find rodents if they\u2019re hiding? No. We only report what we can observe. But droppings, smells, and insulation damage are clear signs. If things are too cluttered or blocked, we\u2019ll note limitations. Is video helpful for proving condition later? Absolutely. Our walkthrough video gives buyers visual proof of what we saw\u2014and didn\u2019t\u2014on the inspection day. It protects everyone involved. \u2192 Next up: Post 38: Potential Mold \u2014 What We Can Say\u2014and What We Can\u2019t \u2190 Previously: Post 36: The Hidden Health Hazards of Hoarding and Excessive Clutter Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?","datePublished":"2025-07-16","dateModified":"2025-07-16","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/#Person","name":"Kloc Curtis","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/","identifier":6,"description":"Curtis Kloc is a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in business development, inspections, and technical systems. He has built and sold multiple six- and seven-figure home inspection and environmental services companies, including HERO Inspections & Environmental and Elite Analysis. Curtis is the founder of Inspections Over Coffee, a nationally expanding franchise known for its white-glove service, inspector training systems, and streamlined operational workflows.\r\n\r\nWith deep roots in nuclear engineering from his time as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, Curtis brings unmatched precision and discipline to every business he runs. He is certified and licensed in home inspection, mold assessment, asbestos inspection, and environmental testing, and is a member of NACHI since 2006. Curtis now leads AI automation initiatives through Nexation.ai, helping businesses eliminate busywork and refocus on what matters most\u2014client relationships, growth, and results.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Curtis Kloc","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","width":512,"height":512}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/home-inspecion-blog-31.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/home-inspecion-blog-31.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-what-we-look-for-when-we-suspect-termites-or-pests\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":558,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): What We Look for When We Suspect Termites or PestsOne of the most misunderstood parts of a home inspection? Pest and rodent activity. I get asked all the time, \u201cAre you inspecting for termites?\u201d or \u201cDid you check for mice?\u201d Let me be clear\u2014we\u2019re not licensed pest control operators. We don\u2019t do pest inspections. But\u2026That doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re not paying attention.I Know What Trouble Looks LikeWhen I inspect a home, I\u2019m always watching for the evidence of pest or wildlife activity:  Rodent droppings in attics, garages, or under sinks  Bird nests in soffits or eaves  Animal urine stains on insulation  Gnawed wires, disturbed ductwork, or chewed-through flashing  Termite tunnels (mud tubes), wood rot, or wood that sounds hollow when tappedBut unless the critter walks across my boot during the inspection, I can\u2019t \u201cverify\u201d that it\u2019s actively present\u2014or guarantee that they\u2019re not somewhere I can\u2019t access.Snapshot vs. GuaranteeThis is where the \u201cSnapshot\u201d part of the inspection really matters. We take video footage of the attic, crawlspace, and other key areas. It shows exactly what I saw, on the day I was there.One time, I found a wide-open gable vent in an attic. It wasn\u2019t sealed, and I documented it clearly in the report. Four months later, the owner had squirrels in the attic and was convinced I \u201cmissed\u201d them. But I didn\u2019t. I warned them they were likely to get rodents if the access wasn\u2019t sealed. That video proved it\u2014and our client was protected.What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not  \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: visible evidence of past or present pest, rodent, or termite activity\u2014and signs that entry points exist.  \u274c I\u2019m not: doing a licensed pest inspection, testing for hidden infestations, or guaranteeing that a space is pest-free.Even if I don\u2019t see activity, I\u2019ll still point out areas where wildlife or bugs could easily enter. I\u2019ll flag ventilation gaps, wood-to-earth contact, and any organic debris up against the home\u2014all things that create perfect conditions for pests.FAQs: Pest & Termite ObservationsDo home inspectors check for termites?We\u2019re not performing a licensed termite inspection. But we\u2019ll note visual signs like mud tubes or damage. If we see something suspicious, we\u2019ll recommend a pest control follow-up.What happens if pests show up after the inspection?That\u2019s not unusual. Activity can begin or become visible after we\u2019re gone. Our report reflects the condition on the day of the inspection. That\u2019s why maintenance and sealing up entry points is critical.Can you find rodents if they\u2019re hiding?No. We only report what we can observe. But droppings, smells, and insulation damage are clear signs. If things are too cluttered or blocked, we\u2019ll note limitations.Is video helpful for proving condition later?Absolutely. Our walkthrough video gives buyers visual proof of what we saw\u2014and didn\u2019t\u2014on the inspection day. It protects everyone involved.\u2192 Next up: Post 38: Potential Mold \u2014 What We Can Say\u2014and What We Can\u2019t\u2190 Previously: Post 36: The Hidden Health Hazards of Hoarding and Excessive ClutterCurious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): What We Look for When We Suspect Termites or Pests","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-what-we-look-for-when-we-suspect-termites-or-pests\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]