Top Things to know about Building and Pest Inspections

When you are buying a property it’s important to know just what you’re getting, the best way to do that is to ask for building and pest inspections on The Gold Coast

These are the top things you should know about building and pest inspections:

·         Do you really need to have a building and pest inspection?

Of course you do, as it’s the best way to tell if the property you wish to purchases is sound and free from pest infestations. Unless you  happen to be a builder, it’s often hard to tell if a property has structural or other defects which could cost a lot to repair

·         Why would I need both a Pest and building inspection?

Simply because although they are related they’re both quite different, a building inspection is about structural and safety hazards including electrical and water damage.

A pest inspection is to determine if there are or have been any pest infestations on the property. They also advise if an infestation is likely. This is to ensure the property is free of insects such as bedbugs, cockroaches, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, ants, rodents, snakes and other pests.

You can have two separate inspections or ask for a combined inspection that looks in great detail at both problems.

·         You can Also Do Your Own Inspection

In most situations a buyer is well advised to do their own inspection as well as having the building and pest inspection. It’s recommended to do your own inspection prior to ordering the building and pest inspection so you can request any additional areas or problems you see to be investigated within the inspections.

In general an inspector will welcome your presence during their inspection so they can discuss things directly with you. Everything will also be included in their comprehensive written report.

·         How To Choose The Right Building and Pest Inspection Service

Your real estate agent will know all the inspectors in your area and will be able to help you choose one that is best suited to your needs. All those doing building and pest inspections on The Gold Coast are required to hold a current builders license as well as being qualified and licensed building and pest inspectors.

They are to see any cosmetic cover-ups that the average person may miss and make their reports in accordance with the Australia building standard.

·         What do they Check

• The inspection will include
• The whole exterior
• Ceiling or roof space
• Retaining walls and fencing
• Interior areas
• Garage, carports and garden sheds
• Bathrooms, toilets and laundries
• Under floor spaces
• Stairs, steps, drives and pathways
• Any water damage

A Typical Inspection Report Includes

• Your Name
• The date
•  Property address
• The reason for the inspection
•  Extent of the inspection and any special requirements
• A list of areas that were not inspected and the reasons why
• A full summary of the property’s condition, including any major or minor defects found
• A list of any areas that require attention or repair
•  Any recommendations for additional inspections, if required

Having building and pest inspections done on Gold Coast to any property you are considering purchasing will ensure you know exactly what you’re buying and don’t get caught with a property full of costly defects or pest infestations.

5 Reason why pest inspection is important

Having regular pest inspections on The Gold Coast is a smart way to preserve the value of your property. Not only is the Coast a great place for people to live it’s a haven for pests too. They like places with a bit of moisture, plenty of food and shelter from the elements, in other words our home are perfect for them if we are not careful.

These are five reasons why pest inspections are important:

1.      Prevention

Having a regular pest inspection is about nipping any pest problem in the bud. In most instances there is little visible sign of pests until they become established.

Ants, termites, scorpions, cockroaches, bed bugs, rodents and snakes can all be lurking around in obscure places you never look at. There they can become established and breed, so by having a regular pest inspection you can stop them before they become a problem.

2.     Financial Protection

Most insurance cover specifically exclude damage from pests so any cost involved in repairing damage or the extermination of pests will have to be borne by the owner as they see it as a maintenance issue that you should have taken care of before it developed.

Regular pest inspections on The Gold Coast can prevent costly repair bills; white ants can destroy all the timbers inside a building in a very short time.

3.     Value Preservation

By keeping your property clear of pests you preserve the value of your buildings.

If you are planning on selling a property it’s a good idea to arrange for pest inspections on The Gold Coast and have any damage repaired before you place it on the market. Being able to show a clean pest report is a good selling point.

4.     Consumer protection

Before you sign up for a new property have a complete pest inspection to ensure the property is pest free and in good condition, the pests might have gone but their destruction can be hidden.

The last thing you need is nasty surprises in your new home when you move in. A pest inspection will also give recommendations on practical ways to keep pests away from your home and prevent them entering.

5.     Simple Peace of Mind

For most people their home is their largest and most costly asset. Having the knowledge that your home is protected from any type of harm is important. Pests may only be small, but the can cause a huge amount of damage. White ants or termites eat the timber, rodents love to chew electric wires to keep their teeth sharp causing a potential fire hazard and cockroaches carry diseases. Other pests like bed bugs (a type of tick), centipedes, scorpions and spiders can bite with some being venomous like snakes.

All these pests have the potential to cause a lot of damage to your property costing you real money to deal with.

Having regular pest inspections on the Gold Coast is the first step in protective maintenance for your whole property. Stopping pests before they cause you any problem will preserve the value of your property and keep your family safe. Remember it’s a maintenance issue so is not covered by most insurances.

5 Tips to make your home Ants free

Ants are a huge problem, they are hard to stop and control. Ants never work alone, the always come in the hundreds and sometimes thousands getting into everything. One of the best and most effective methods is using The Gold Coast pest control companies to help, but if you want to do it yourself, you first need to do a bit of detective work to find out how they gain entry to your home and where their colony is.

Don’t just sweep them away, find out what’s attracting them, they are usually after food, that’s the main attraction, so if you remove this food source they will probably move away by themselves

Ants send out scouts to find food. These scouts leave a trail for the worker ants to follow so to stop them you need to get rid of the food and the trails.

Follow some of these remedies to stop ants:

Soap and Water

When you see ants around your home, using a spray bottle with a mixture of dish washing liquid and warm water will help to get rid of them. Place a little dish washing liquid in your spray bottle, fill with warm water and shake well, then spray directly on the ants

This solution will coat their bodies and suffocate them and also wash away their scent trails. This confuses the colony and you can then direct them away from your home with more spray.

Borax

Borax is a type of natural salt that kills ants and other insects. It’s not toxic to humans or other animals. When ants eat borax in gradually kills them by interfering with their digestive system. Because it works slowly the ants have time to take it back to the colony where they share it with the other ants

To prepare it, mix together borax, water, peanut butter and powdered sugar. Place it in containers with a few holes made so the ants can gain entry and place these around areas where you see ants.

Baking Soda, Salt and Fine Ground Pepper

Mix all these together and spread around your floor or benches so it goes down any cracks, under cupboards or skirting boards. Get a fine broom and sweep it around a bit, the sweep most of it up again, but leaving it in the cracks and gaps. Sprinkle some around doorways and other entry points and the ants will disappear quickly as this mixture get into their joints and also dries out their bodies and disturbing their natural body chemistry.

Chalk

Chalk disrupts the ant’s communication by confusing their pheromone trails. Ants won’t cross a chalk line so if you place a chalk line between their colony and food they will have to look elsewhere. These lines soon disappear so need to be redone frequently.

Vinegar

Vinegar also like chalk destroys the ant pheromone trails and confuses them. It’s best sprayed around entrance ways and any points the ants use to gain entry.

Ants are very determined creatures, if you see one or two, then expect thousands soon if there is any food around for them. The guys at The Gold Coast Pest Control Companies are experts at eliminating ants so if you find you can’t control them give them a call.

5 Reasons why Termite Inspection is beneficial

Many household pests can be eradicated or prevented using home remedies that can be made from normal household products, but one pest that is unusually difficult to eradicate successfully is the termite. If you have a problem with termites or live in an area where there are termites, it pays to have a professional termite inspection on the Gold Coast.

Termites are usually almost invisible, they are very good at hiding and often only become apparent when they have caused damage to property.

Five very good reasons to have your property regularly inspected for termites

1.       Termite and pest control companies understand termites as they deal with them constantly on a daily basis. You may try and save some money by purchasing products from the market, but often these are not very effective and will not remove the whole colony. A termite exterminator has the necessary knowledge and experience to be able to locate the whole termite colony and remove them quickly and without fuss.

Termites are very clever creatures and they usually have their breeding areas away from the areas they feed, for safety.

If you see a few termites you can be sure there are many more around as they always exist in large numbers. Killing a few will just cause them to hide more

2.      Termite control companies have access to the specialized equipment and chemicals that are required to eradicate termites and stop them returning. Usually the treatments need to be administered into very hard to get at spaces and into tight, narrow areas that it’s almost impossible to reach without the right equipment.

The commercial grades of the products and chemicals they use are much more powerful than those available to the public which means you get longer lasting protection and less chance of contaminating the environment.

So if termites are detected, they can then be controlled or removed quickly and efficiently

3.      Termites are very hard to find and in order not to damage property when looking for them during a termite inspection, technicians use thermal or termatrac technology. This non invasive method allows them to investigate without needing to make holes to see into areas or remove coverings. This reduces the time required for inspections and there is no need for costly repairs (unless the areas are already damaged) after the inspection as it makes the inspection more affordable.

4.      Just having a clean, tidy property is not enough to stop termites. Having plants and soil up against your home can make their entry easier, but that is not enough. Things like rotting timber, broken pipes, cracks in cement, roofing, flashing and screens can provide easy entry points. Because termites are very persistent and determined a skillful termite controller is your best insurance against them.

Usually when there is one pest around your property there are other types present as well, your termite inspection will also reveal the presence of these

If you’re considering selling your property have an up to date termite inspection certificate from a professional termite inspection company on The Gold Coast. This will help to make your property more attractive to potential buyers, but even if you’re not placing it on the market it will provide you peace of mind

Top 6 pest control tips

The Gold Coast is one of the nicest places to live in Australia with a perfect climate and wonderful opportunities for everyone living there. It’s also a haven for pest's nuisances around the home, which is where pest control on The Gold Coast becomes important.

Before you realize you have a pest problem, they will have invaded your space and built homes and colonies. The best way to combat this is to have regular pest inspections of your property on The Gold Coast.

The top 6 things to control pests are:

1.      Keep Bugs and Insects Away

Gardens can be very attractive, but can harbor a variety of insects, so it’s best to keep them at least a meter for your buildings or foundations. White ants love things like mulch or older leaves as they contain old wood, their main food. If too close to your building they and other insects can gain easy unseen access. Using rocks and decorative pebbles are a great alternative

Always clear under stairs, decks and raised walkways as there are popular hiding places for insects, snakes and rodents

2  Read more at - https://www.topdogpestcontrol.com.au/blog/top-6-pest-control-tips/