We all know the drill when it comes to boosting home value. You paint the front door a trendy shade of slate blue, you plant some marigolds along the walkway, and maybe you finally fix that one squeaky cabinet hinge that’s been driving you furious since 2018. But it’s easy to overlook how a pests problem can devalue property if left unaddressed.
It makes sense to focus on what you can see because curb appeal is the shiny wrapper that gets people through the door. But while you’re worrying about the shade of the shutters, there might be a much more expensive problem lurking behind the drywall.
Pest infestations are one of the most significant yet frequently overlooked threats to property value. Nothing kills a sale faster than a buyer realizing they aren’t just buying a house, but also acquiring a thriving colony of uninvited roommates.
In this guide, we’re going to look at five specific pests that can wreck your home’s value, and more importantly, what to do about them.
1. Termites
Known (not so favorably) as “silent destroyers,” termites can chew through wood, flooring, and wallpaper for years undetected. They build mud tubes to travel from the soil to your home’s structure, often swarming only after the colony is massive and beyond your scope of control.
- The Damage: Termites excavate wood, consuming support beams, floor joists, and wall studs. This can lead to catastrophic structural failure, including sagging floors and buckled ceilings, and sometimes requiring entire sections of a home to be rebuilt or at the very least, repaired.
- Impact on Value: The word “termite” signals deep, expensive problems to buyers. Evidence of an active infestation or improper repairs can kill a deal or lead to a massive price reduction. In addition, a history of termites can stigmatize a property, causing it to linger on the market.
- Prevention: Your best defense against termites is heavy handed offense. Schedule annual professional inspections with a professional pest control company, make sure water drains away from your foundation, keep wood and paper away from the house, and seal exterior cracks.
2. Rodents (Rats and Mice)
Rats and mice seek warmth, safety, and food in your attic, basement, or walls. A mouse can enter through a dime-sized hole, and a rat through a quarter-sized one. Once inside, they reproduce quickly.
- The Damage: Rodents compulsively chew on materials like electrical wiring, creating a major fire hazard. They also tear up insulation for nests and leave behind urine and droppings that create pervasive odors and health risks.
- Impact on Value: Evidence of rodents suggests the home is dirty or neglected, leading buyers to question the overall maintenance. An inspector finding an infestation can lower the valuation due to potential hidden damage and health concerns.
- Prevention: Seal all exterior cracks and holes with steel wool and caulk. Trim back trees, store food in airtight containers, and keep garbage cans tightly sealed.
3. Cockroaches
Cockroaches thrive in warm, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms. For every one you see, dozens more are likely hiding. They are resilient and spread bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
- The Damage: Cockroaches don’t cause structural damage but ruin a home’s sanitary condition. They produce allergens that can trigger asthma, and their waste can stain surfaces. A heavy infestation creates a distinct, musty odor that’s hard to miss (especially as a potential homebuyer).
- Impact on Value: Cockroaches are universally associated with filth. A sighting during a showing can cause a buyer to walk away, destroying the home’s “turnkey” appeal and leading to lowball offers.
- Prevention: Fix leaky pipes, clean up spills immediately, and never leave dirty dishes out. Seal cracks around baseboards and pipes and take out garbage daily.
4. Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood. Instead, they excavate it to build nests. They prefer moist or decaying wood, often found near window frames, decks, and roof eaves. Piles of “frass,” which looks like sawdust, are a common sign of a problem.
- The Damage: By carving galleries inside wood, they compromise your home’s structural integrity, similar to termites. They can hollow out support beams, requiring expensive repairs.
- Impact on Value: Carpenter ants are a red flag for both structural damage and an underlying moisture problem. This combination of issues can scare off lenders and buyers, significantly devaluing the property.
- Prevention: Replace any rotting wood, make sure gutters direct water away from the house, and trim branches touching the siding or roof. Seal cracks around the foundation.
5. Nuisance Wildlife (Raccoons, Squirrels, etc.)
Larger animals like raccoons, squirrels, and bats seek shelter in attics and chimneys. They often enter through torn screens, loose soffits, or uncapped chimneys.
- The Damage: Raccoons can rip off shingles, while squirrels are notorious for chewing through electrical wires. They trample insulation, tear into ductwork, and their accumulated waste creates a biohazard requiring professional remediation.
- Impact on Value: Visible entry points signal deferred maintenance. The sounds, stains, and odors make a home feel uninhabitable. Buyers view these as “money pit” issues involving multiple contractors, driving down the offer price significantly.
- Prevention: Install a chimney cap, repair any holes in siding or soffits, and cover vents with heavy-duty hardware cloth. Secure garbage cans to avoid attracting wildlife.
Start With One Small Step at a Time
It’s easy to get caught up in the cosmetic side of home ownership, picking out throw pillows and obsessing over paint swatches.
But real property value is built on a solid, healthy foundation. Pest infestations aren’t an annoyance that you can ignore until it’s convenient. They’re a direct attack on your investment. They eat your equity, scare away potential buyers, and create inspection reports that read like horror stories.
You’re better off tackling these issues now rather than waiting until a “For Sale” sign is in the yard. Taking preventative steps, like sealing cracks, managing moisture, and scheduling routine inspections, costs a fraction of what you would lose in a botched home sale.
A pest-free home proves to buyers that the property has been loved, maintained, and protected. That confidence is what gets you the full asking price. So, take a walk around your house today, look for the signs we discussed, and protect your asset before the bugs move in.