Identify Pest Entry Points

Goal

Systematically identify the structural gaps and conducive conditions that let pests inside a home. Chemical treatment without exclusion is a moving target - pests keep entering and the customer keeps calling. A 20-minute structural inspection up-front upsells of exclusion work that solves the problem permanently and stops the callback cycle.

Prerequisites

• Inspection light (headlamp + handheld flashlight)
• Ladder (4-foot step minimum; 12-foot extension if multi-story)
• Tape measure
• Camera / phone for documentation
• Pen + paper for diagrammed notes
• 20 - 30 minutes

Steps

1. Start at the foundation. Walk the entire perimeter looking for:

• Cracks > 1/16" (mice fit through a #2 pencil-sized hole)
• Gaps around utility penetrations (gas, water, electrical, cable)
• Settling cracks in the foundation slab
• Weep holes in brick veneer (often the #1 ant + roach entry)

1. Inspect the sill plate. Where the foundation meets the framing. Gaps here let bugs walk straight into the wall cavity. Use a flashlight angled across the sill to catch shadows that indicate openings.
2. Check every door. Daylight visible under a closed door = mouse entry. Daylight visible at the threshold corners = insect entry. Weather stripping that's compressed flat or torn needs replacement.
3. Check every window. Screens torn, screen-frame gaps, missing weep covers. Look for spider webs at the corners - webs follow airflow, which follows gaps.
4. Climb to the soffit / fascia. Vent screens torn? Eaves gapped at the corners? Squirrel chews? Soffit returns are favorite carpenter-bee and wasp nest sites.
5. Look at the roofline. Ridge cap gaps, valley flashing failures, dryer/range vent caps missing or chewed. Wildlife (raccoons, squirrels) is the bigger risk here than insects.
6. Check the garage. Garage doors with worn bottom seals are an open invitation. Walls separating garage from house often have utility penetrations that bypass the home's main weatherization.
7. Document with a sketch. Draw the home's footprint and mark every entry point with a number; keyed to a photo list for the customer's quote.

Verification

• Sketch covers all four sides of the structure
• Every entry point has a photo + description
• Photos timestamped
• Customer sees the sketch + photos before any quote conversation

Troubleshooting

• Can't find an entry point but pests are inside: pests may be coming from inside - bird nests in attic, established wall colony, plumbing penetrations through interior walls. Reverse the search inside.
• Customer pushes back on quote ("we just want spray"): that's fine - note the entry points anyway for the file, treat chemically, and reference them at the next visit when pests return. Two visits of "the spray isn't working" is when most exclusion sales close.
• Found an entry point you don't want to seal yourself (roofline, crawlspace, etc.): refer to a specialty contractor and stay in the customer's good graces. A trusted referral generates more goodwill than a half-done exclusion.

References

• NPMA Best Management Practices for Exclusion
• HUD Guide to Pest Exclusion Methods
• Manuall internal: Quarterly Residential Pest Service