Rodent Check Before Renting or Buying a Home in Stuart.

Ask the owner or agent directly whether the home has had rodents, and whether any pest control has been done. A seller may have a disclosure obligation, so ask for any records. If a prior treatment occurred, ask what was done and when. A recent job with sealing is a good sign, while a history of repeated treatments with no sealing is a warning.

Ask about recent roof work, storm repairs and tree trimming. Those events open gaps and move animals. Ask whether any palms or fruit trees on the lot have been cleaned regularly. A neglected palm next to the roof is a risk.

If you are renting, ask how pest issues are handled and who pays. Get the answer in writing if possible, since a vague answer is hard to enforce later.

Start outside. Walk around the house and look at the roofline, the vents and the base of the walls. Look for gaps at the ends of tile, gable vents without mesh, soffit panels that are loose or stained and holes around pipes and the air conditioner line set. Rub marks, droppings or burrows at the base of walls are warning signs.

Inspect the garage door. If you can see light under it when closed, mice can enter. Check the corners and the seal. Look at the walls inside the garage for droppings, gnawed boxes and shredded material. A garage full of stored items from a previous owner is a place to look carefully.

• Tile ends, vents and soffits at the roofline.
• Gaps around pipes, line sets and the dryer vent.
• Garage door seal and corners.
• Droppings along walls, shelves and the water heater closet.
• Burrows, gnawed fruit and rub marks in the yard.
• Palms, branches or vines touching the roof.

If you can, look in the attic from the hatch. Droppings on the insulation, flattened trails, shredded material and a sharp smell are clear signs. Notice any daylight that should not be there. Look at ductwork, since torn wrap can mean gnawing.

Inside the house, look at ceilings for stains and at vents for dark smears. Listen during a showing. If the house is quiet, a scratch may stand out. If you view in the evening, you have a better chance of hearing something.

A home inspection should include the attic. Ask the inspector to note any signs of rodents, and to look at the roofline and the crawl space or foundation. If anything is flagged, get a pest company to look before closing.

Open the cabinets under the sink and look at the back wall. Gaps around pipes are common entry points. Check for droppings, gnaw marks and greasy smears. Pull out the stove and the fridge if the owner allows, or at least look at the edges.

Check the pantry shelves and the corners. Droppings are easiest to see against a light surface. A sharp, musty smell in a closed cabinet can mean urine. A fresh coat of paint or a new plug-in air freshener in an odd place may be a cover.

Look at the laundry area as well. The gap behind the washer and the dryer vent are common routes. A mouse can enter through a vent flap that does not close.

One dropping does not mean an infestation. A pattern does. Multiple droppings, fresh gnaw marks, a strong smell, noises or visible damage suggest a current problem. Tell the seller or landlord and ask for it to be dealt with before you move in.

A smell that is covered by fragrance is a particular warning. So is a house that has been recently painted in one room only. Ask why. A fresh repair near a vent, a pipe or a ceiling may hide an old problem.

Do not panic. Photograph what you see and note the date. If you rent, tell the landlord in writing. If you bought, check your inspection report and any seller disclosures. Then call a professional for an inspection.

Our rodent inspection and estimates service gives you a plain explanation of what is happening and what it would take to fix it. Typically, that means rodent trapping and removal followed by exclusion and entry point sealing.

Moving also stirs animals up. Boxes in the garage, stacked cardboard and empty rooms give them shelter. Break down boxes quickly and keep food stored in sealed containers from day one.

• Walk the garage and note anything unusual on day one.
• Look under each sink and behind the washer.
• Listen for movement in the ceilings in the evening.
• Store food in sealed containers from the start.
• Check the yard for burrows, fruit and rub marks.

These checks take minutes and give you a baseline. If something changes later, you will know it is new.

The line is answered 24 hours a day, and same-day visits are offered where the schedule allows. Tell us the address and ZIP code, whether you own or rent and what you found. We will explain what we can do and give a plan and a price before any work starts.

A little care at the start of a lease or a purchase can save months of trouble. A tight, tidy home is the best protection, and that begins with knowing what to look for.