Special offer

Do You Have Mice In The House?

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

Do you have mice in the house?

These folks do.  And they don't know why.

It's a bit of an unusual request to get me to try to determine why there are mice in the house.  Usually that would be left to some pest company, and responding to some ad coupon received in the mail.

So I asked why they called me.

"We asked around our neighborhood, and you have been here many times.

Our neighbors all said the same thing - to call you because you would be fair and not try to sell us something."

Wow!  They get it!

I have been called before to investigate this or that pest problem.  And they are right, I do not try to sell some prevention package.  I do not "find" problems that don't exist.

So, can you see the mouse highway into the house?

Look again.  It's there!  Around that tubing are biggie gaps!

My recommendation:  any form of pest, from winged to four legs to insect to slither, will try to get into a house.   Animals are very opportunistic!  They sense the warmth.  They smell the food.  They are looking for safety and comfort.  Any opening that is available to animals will be used to get in!  Bats and birds, for example, only need a 1/4" opening to get into the house!  So, if you have pests in the house, of whatever ilk, walk around and try to see where your pests are getting in.  And take care of it!  And calling a home inspector might be smart.  It will certainly give you an honest assessment that does not try to sell you something more.

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(16)

Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Not unusual for these furry four footeds to seek refuge from the winter findng the teeniest tiniest holes anywhere....we could rent out Dini and Magic and you still wouldn't be accused of selling anyone something..hmmm ?

Feb 16, 2017 04:49 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I don't know from personal experience, but expect that cats are the best anti-mouse weapon in a house, S&D.

Peanut butter mouse poison works too...

Feb 16, 2017 04:53 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Rodents will always find a way in, unless the homeowner keeps several paces ahead of the game. Here in Florida, it's not mice, but rats and squirrels to worry about.

Feb 16, 2017 05:13 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

We have those too, S&N!  The rats are mostly visitors to commercial establishments here, but the squirrels are way over populated.

Feb 16, 2017 05:23 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Jay. Looks as if they could have got a jump start on the problem. Enjoy your day 

Feb 16, 2017 05:27 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Elmer's glue, Wayne!

Or Gorilla...

Feb 16, 2017 05:38 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Those little devils don't need much room to get in too! The coolant lines are very common here...

Feb 16, 2017 07:30 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

We had one about a month ago and saw droppings in the pantry. Maybe the moustrap scared hime away!

Feb 16, 2017 07:44 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Years ago that's how mice got into my house, Fred.  They did loads of damage before I even knew they were there!

Joe - not likely!  And when there is one, there are more, usually.

Feb 16, 2017 07:57 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Jay. I hate this topic because mice are destructive and scare me too. Nonetheless, well done.

Feb 16, 2017 08:04 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

I have a few neighbors who've been dealing with bats for years. Nothing has worked to keep the bats away and out of their attics (I've seen wire, new trim, coverings ...) Our association put up bat houses but no bat has ever been spotted moving into one. It's frustrating to say the least. Perhaps they ought to call a home inspector instead of a pest control company to finally get it figured out? 

Feb 16, 2017 08:23 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

They sure were in my house, Sheila!  Peanut butter poison works wonders.

Andrea - years ago I arrived at a property where the chimney was settling and pulling away from the side of the house - many inches.  Opening the attic hatch, and turning on my flashlight, between 1 and 2 million spooked bats began flying furiously!  The floor was inches deep in poop.  I covered my nose and got out of there fast!  Yummie.

You have to find and plug the openings where they are getting in and out.

Feb 16, 2017 11:13 AM
Stephen Weakley
Nationwide Mortgage Services - Rockville, MD

You have worked hard for years to develop your "honest" relationship and it is paying off.  Sometimes it seems doing the right thing isn't worth it, but in the long run it will pay off over and over again.  Kudos to a job well done my friend.

Feb 16, 2017 11:45 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thank you Stephen.  Once I did a one-year inspection for a young lady who had terrible insulation issues with very hot and cold rooms.   I found whole walls devoid of insulation.  She took my report around to the neighbors and I became a rock star.  I would drive down the street and people would wave!

That is the area when the builder said that home inspectors should not be allowed to use thermal cameras.  For sure - why find problems that people can't live with?  Gee, we shouldn't have receptacle testers or moisture meters either, apparently.

Feb 16, 2017 11:52 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Mouse on the loose, it happens and winter especially drives them inside.

Apr 11, 2017 07:20 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

They are looking for warmth and food just like the rest of us, Andrew!

Apr 12, 2017 03:29 AM