SW FL – 6 Common Pests Found in Home Inspections

This is one reason we like to do inspections in the summer.  In Colorado, you wouldn't find most of these in the winter. We rarely have termites.

Great post Kwee and they're not just in Florida. They're all over the states just more prevalent in others. I have clients who are looking for a home that doesn't have a lot of trees near the structure. We've looked at homes where the sellers have asked that the buyers don't remove the trees. Yeah right, then the sellers can remove them. We had a small peach tree that some idiot planted right against the house (could've been a small child though). Took that tree out because the birds would get to it first and then the bees and ants. Bird doo all over the side of the house and bees and ants trying to get in. Ripped that sucker out and sprayed the house down.

I'm with you sellers should be aware of the situation of their house. Before my dad sold any of his houses, he had them inspected. He always got what he asked for listing price.

I have a seventh common pest found at home inspections. It is the expert relative (handy dad or uncle Joe) that knows more than the inspector about what is being looked for, discovered, and reported.

Kwee - thank you for a very insightful post on the kinds of pests one might find on a Florida inspection (the pictures were very useful).  I feel fortunate that we don't seem to have all of those in this area.

Once we had a big Cock Roach problem.  When we moved I dumped the soil out of my wifes container gardens in the back yard - that was where they were coming from.  We tend to have them in this area.  I call the Sink Lobsters.

That is why estiminators use "control" anymore instead of "estiminate", very good post thanks!

Kwee, this was excellent information to get out to the public, and something buyers in Florida have to be mindful of when doing inspections.   GREAT post.

When I was a Realtor in New Jersey, we saw termites often.  In 3.5 years I have never seen any termites in Vermont so that is a good thing!

Kwee an excelelnt list of what type of insects home buyers in South FL might encounter.

Congrats on the feature.

Kwee - Congratulations on your feature! Homeowners need to know and understand that pests are not just pesty they need to be destroyed because they don't belong inside of people's homes. They can cause terrible damage and the cost can be astronomical.

Gross! The Puget Sound - Seattle area is famous for carpenter ants taking advantage of exposed home foundations after a careless homeowner piles dirt higher than the foundation edges, sometimes in an effort to "hide" the cement foundation. Moist soil pushed up along the siding? Presto! Carpenter ants go to work destroying floorboards, support pots, stairs - it's all so tasty to carpenter ants! Good post.

This is very interesting for buyers in your area.  (I hope to be one someday!).  By the way we are coming August 3rd thru the 16th.  :) 

Hi Kwee,  Those same pests are found in southeast Florida too.   Great to point this out - you need a good inspector and to be diligent about taking care of your home.  Congrats on the feature!

I haven't seen you around in a while, and I wanted to come by and say...Hello. I hope everything is ok, and you are just busy.