Before you buy an older home, know that decades of settling, aging wood and slow leaks can give termites, carpenter ants, rodents and moisture-loving insects easy ways in, and a casual walk-through rarely shows the evidence. The practical steps are to check the basement or crawl space, attic, windows, doors and the base of the exterior walls, ask the seller for pest treatment records, and get a professional inspection for wood-destroying insects before you close. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, and below it explains why older homes are more vulnerable, where to look during a showing and what a pest inspection can and can’t tell you.
Why Older Homes Are More Vulnerable to Pests
Older homes have simply had more time to develop the cracks, damp wood and hidden damage that pests take advantage of. Foundations settle and shift over the decades, opening gaps that let insects and rodents inside. Wood that has been through years of weather and slow leaks can soften or rot, which makes it a target for termites, carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles. University of Maryland Extension’s carpenter ant guidance notes that damp or rotting wood is especially attractive for ant nests, and that a colony inside a house is usually a sign of a past or present water problem.
Building materials and practices have also changed, and older plumbing, such as galvanized steel or aging cast iron pipes, can corrode and leak, keeping the wood inside a wall or under a floor damp for years. Moisture draws several pests, including termites and carpenter ants, so a hidden leak and a pest problem often turn up together. That is why fixing the leak matters as much as treating the pests. Saela’s integrated pest management approach works the same way, pairing targeted treatment with sealing entry points and reducing the food, water and shelter that support an infestation.
Where to Look for Signs of Pests in an Older Home
Start with the basement or crawl space, where wood is most likely to sit close to the soil and stay damp. Look for mud tubes on the foundation walls, which subterranean termites build to travel from the soil to wood, and check joists and beams for small holes, sawdust-like debris or wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Note any damp wood, standing water or wood touching the soil, since those conditions make it easier for termites to reach the house. These lower levels are among the areas of a home most vulnerable to termites, and they are easy to skip during a showing.
Next, check the attic for chewed wires, shredded insulation or small droppings, which can point to rodents or other wildlife. Look closely around original windows and exterior doors, where drafts and gaps can also let in ants, spiders and mice; the CDC’s guide to sealing rodent entry points notes that a mouse can fit through a hole the width of a pencil. Finally, walk the outside of the house and look for wood siding, trim or posts that touch the soil, since that contact gives wood-destroying insects a direct route in.
What Maintenance and Pest Treatment Records Tell You
A home’s history can tell you as much as a walk-through. When you make an offer on an older home, ask the seller for records of past repairs and pest treatments, including any termite treatment agreements and receipts for rodent work such as sealed entry points or attic clean-outs. For termite agreements, note the inspection schedule and whether re-treatment is covered, since those terms vary from one agreement to the next. Not every seller will have records, but whatever exists is worth reading before you negotiate.
Read the records for patterns. A single wasp nest removal five years ago is nothing to worry about, but repeated treatments for mice, or a major structural repair after termite damage, should prompt questions about what caused the problem and whether it was fixed. With rodents, that means asking whether the entry points were ever sealed; how mice and rats get inside walls explains which openings to look for. The history also shows whether past owners kept up with prevention or relied on short-term fixes, which helps you anticipate what could come back.
Why a Professional Pest Inspection Matters Before You Buy
Even a careful walk-through and a clean set of records can miss activity hidden inside walls, under floors or deep in a tight crawl space. A general home inspection is a good starting point, but it isn’t focused on pests, which is why an inspection for termites and other wood-destroying insects is one of the most useful steps before closing on an older home. A pest-focused inspection looks for live insects, old damage and the conditions that invite them, in places most buyers never see.
North Carolina’s home buyer’s guide to wood-destroying insect reports explains that the inspection is a careful visual check of accessible areas. In that state, the report must cover visible evidence of insects such as subterranean termites, powder post beetles, old house borers and carpenter ants, along with conditions that favor termites, including wood touching soil and crawl-space wood with a moisture content of 20% or more. The same guide notes that the report is not a warranty, doesn’t cover areas that can’t be reached, such as the inside of walls, and isn’t a structural damage assessment, so pay attention to any areas listed as inaccessible. With that information, you can ask the seller for treatment or repairs, bring in a contractor to evaluate damage, or decide the house isn’t the right fit.
Buying an older home can be a rewarding way to own a piece of history. Keeping it in good shape means fixing leaks quickly, keeping wood off the soil and checking the crawl space and attic regularly after you move in. Saela’s 50+ point property inspection covers the same ground, including structural gaps, attics and basements. If you hire a pest control company to help, check its record first: as of October 2026, the Better Business Bureau profile for Saela’s Orem, Utah headquarters shows an A+ rating and BBB accreditation since June 2022.
How Saela Can Help
If the walk-through or the records point to rodents, Saela’s rodent exclusion service includes inspecting for access points, repairing openings and placing traps for rodents still inside. In a February 2024 Google review, kay mccallop said Saela identified the issues that could let rodents in and repaired them that day. Saela also offers attic and crawl-space clean-outs after rodent activity, and your property-specific quote spells out which cleanup and repair work is included.
If you own an older home or are about to move into one, book a call to schedule an inspection. Saela’s pest-control protocols are developed by its entomologist, Dennis Weiss, BCE, who also trains its technicians and audits service quality.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
