Standard pre-purchase look
The standard look covers the exterior, the foundation, the lower level and the attic where access is available. It gives a clear written record of visible activity and conditions on the day of the visit.
Serving Gallatin County
Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection in Bozeman
A written pest look at a house before a sale closes, covering the foundation, lower level, entry points and moisture.
- Spider control
- Mouse trapping and sealing
- Pre-purchase pest inspection
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Pre-Purchase
Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection: what it covers
Quick answer
A pre-purchase pest inspection in Bozeman is a written look at a house before you buy it, covering the foundation, the lower level, the entry points and moisture that could draw pests. It is not a structural survey or a home inspection. Bozeman Pest Control connects you with a local technician across Gallatin County, and the price is approved before the visit.
Buying a house is a long process, and pests are one of the things that are easy to overlook while the financing and the survey take all the attention. A pre-purchase look gives you a clear, written record of what the technician saw on the day: the foundation, the lower level and the gaps where insects and rodents could come in.
This service looks at pests and the conditions that support them. It does not replace a home inspection, a structural survey or an assessment of the systems, and it does not certify the house. What it does is show whether there are visible signs of activity, the places where pests could enter, and the moisture or clutter that makes the home more attractive to them.
Call (855) 974-4733 to book the look. Calls are answered 24/7, and same-day service is offered when a technician is free. Tell the technician the closing date you are working to, and the visit will be planned around the sale.
- Service area
- Bozeman & Gallatin County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
Warning signs
Signs you need pre-purchase pest inspection
Do not enter a crawl space, attic or basement where you can see droppings, dead animals or a strong odor without advice, and do not disturb nesting material. Do not remove or move stored items from an empty house before the look without the seller's agreement. If you find something that worries you, such as a nest or a damaged floor, keep people away from the area and tell the technician. A pest look does not make a house safe to enter in a damaged condition.
- Droppings, gnaw marks or nesting material in the basement, the garage or the attic
- Mud tubes, shed wings or damaged timber along the foundation
- Gaps around pipes, vents and utility lines entering the lower level
- Damp, musty areas or standing water in the crawl space or basement
- Stored clutter, firewood or cardboard against the foundation wall
- Fresh webs or egg sacs in window wells and along the lower walls
Options
Types and options for pre-purchase pest inspection
Focused lower-level and crawl space look
Where the main concern is the crawl space or basement, the look focuses on those areas and their moisture, entry points and wood in contact with soil. It is a shorter visit with a tighter report.
Look with a treatment quote
If the look finds activity, the technician can prepare a separate treatment quote, which is approved before any work and is never a condition of the report.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what pre-purchase pest inspection should cost.
Does a pre-purchase pest look replace a home inspection?
No. A pre-purchase pest look covers pests and the conditions that support them. A home inspection and a structural survey cover the building itself, and each answers different questions for the buyer.
A pest look does not assess the roof, the wiring, the plumbing or the structure. Those are the job of the home inspector and any structural professional you hire. The pest report can be read alongside them.
The buyer should decide with their own advisers which checks are needed for the purchase.
What does the look find that a buyer might miss?
The look finds gaps in the foundation, fresh signs of rodents, mud tubes, damp in the crawl space and clutter against the walls. These are easy to miss during a walkthrough and are the usual points of pest concern.
A walkthrough often happens in good light and with the furniture in place. The technician looks behind stored items, in the lower level and along the foundation, where signs of activity collect.
Old signs are recorded as old. A house that has been empty for a while can show dead insects and droppings that are no longer active, and the report says so.
What can a buyer do with the report?
The report can be used to ask the seller for a treatment, to plan a sealing job or to decide whether further checks are needed. It is a record of conditions on the day, and the buyer decides what to do with it.
If the report lists activity, the buyer can ask for a treatment before closing, or arrange one after. If it lists gaps, a sealing plan can be costed separately. The report is written so that either outcome is clear.
The report does not guarantee the house is free of pests in future. It records what was visible on the day.
What affects the price of a pre-purchase look?
The price depends on the size of the house, how much of the lower level and attic can be reached, the number of outbuildings and how fast the report is needed. It is approved on site before the visit, and no figure is quoted on this page.
A small house with a clear basement is a shorter visit. A larger house with a crawl space, an attached garage, outbuildings and a finished lower level takes more time to inspect properly.
If a treatment quote is requested at the same time, it is listed on its own estimate.
Who is responsible for the work on a house once it is sold?
The local technician who carries out any treatment is responsible for that work, under the Montana Department of Agriculture's pesticide licensing. The buyer is advised to ask for the applicator license and to verify it with the department.
Commercial applicators in Montana are licensed by the Montana Department of Agriculture, and the structural pest control category applies to this kind of work. Licenses expire each December 31 and must be renewed each year before pesticides are applied.
The firm that does the work carries its own liability insurance and answers to the department. You can ask for the license number on the call and verify it with the department before you agree any treatment.
Our process
How our pre-purchase pest inspection visit works
Agree the scope and the timing
The technician confirms the property, the closing date and what you want covered. A pre-purchase look is planned around the sale, and the scope is written before the visit.
Walk the exterior and the foundation
The outside of the house is checked for gaps, soil contact, downspouts, vents and window wells. The foundation and the ground around it are noted, because the entry points are usually found there.
Inspect the lower level and the attic
The basement or crawl space, the garage and the attic, where access is available, are inspected for activity and for conditions that support pests. Any area that could not be reached is listed.
Record the findings
Each finding is recorded with its location, whether it is current or old, and what it suggests. The report separates visible activity from conditions, so you can see the difference.
Write the report for the buyer
A written report is provided that lists what was seen, what was not seen and the next steps. The buyer can use it in discussions about the sale, and a treatment, if one is needed, is discussed separately.
Gallatin County
Why pre-purchase pest inspection is different in the Gallatin Valley
A house in the Gallatin Valley is often bought with the seasons in mind, and the buyer's visit may come in summer when the fall pests have not yet appeared. The look covers the signs and gaps that can be seen on the day, and it says so when the season limits what can be found.
The lower level, the window wells and the garage are where most pre-purchase findings tend to be made in Montana homes. Mice and fall insects can use those spaces, and the report lists what is visible there.
Properties in the outer valley towns and on larger lots often have outbuildings, woodpiles and stored feed or equipment close to the house. Those are inspected because they can carry pests into the main building.
Where we work
Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection across Gallatin County
- Pre-Purchase in Downtown Bozeman and Central Bozeman
- Pre-Purchase in South Bozeman
- Pre-Purchase in Northwest Bozeman
- Pre-Purchase in Four Corners
- Pre-Purchase in Belgrade
- Pre-Purchase in Manhattan
- Pre-Purchase in Clyde Park
- Pre-Purchase in Livingston
- Pre-Purchase in Gallatin Gateway
- Pre-Purchase in Three Forks
- Pre-Purchase in Wilsall
- Pre-Purchase in Pray
- Pre-Purchase in Willow Creek
- Pre-Purchase in Emigrant
- Pre-Purchase in Big Sky
- Pre-Purchase in Norris
- Pre-Purchase in Ennis
- Pre-Purchase in Cardwell
- Pre-Purchase in Harrison
- Pre-Purchase in Springdale
- Pre-Purchase in McAllister
- Pre-Purchase in Pony
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Termite Inspection and Treatment
A written termite inspection request for homeowners who want the foundation, wood and moisture checked before any treatment.
General Pest Control
One inspection-led visit for the insects and rodents that most often find their way into a Gallatin Valley home.
Mouse Exclusion and Sealing
Find and close the gaps that let house, deer and white-footed mice into a home, so trapping is not the only defense.
New Construction Pest Prevention
Pre-treatment, sealing and entry-point checks for new houses, planned before the lower level is finished and the first season arrives.
Guides
Read before you book
What Pest Control Costs in Bozeman: What Moves the Price
Pest control in Bozeman is priced on the job, not from a list.
Verifying a Montana Pesticide Applicator License
Commercial pesticide applicators in Montana are licensed by the Montana Department of Agriculture, and the structural pest control category applies to most building work.
Homeowners Claims for Pest Damage in Montana
A homeowner's insurance claim for pest damage in Montana starts with the insurer or agent, with a written record kept from the start.
FAQ
Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection FAQs
How far in advance should I book a pre-purchase look?
Book as early as you can after the offer, so the report is in hand before the closing date. Tell the technician your timeline when you call, and the visit will be planned around it.
Will the look tell me the house is pest-free?
No. It records what was visible on the day and the conditions that could support pests. It cannot rule out activity that is hidden in walls or was not reachable.
Do I need the seller to be present?
Access is the main requirement. The seller or their agent should provide access to the lower level, the crawl space and the attic where possible, and the technician will note any area that could not be reached.
Is a pre-purchase look the same as a treatment?
No. The look is an inspection and report. A treatment is discussed separately, if the report finds activity, and is approved before any work begins.
Who holds the pesticide license for the work?
The local firm that does the work must hold the applicator license from the Montana Department of Agriculture and carry its own insurance. Ask for the license number on the call and verify it with the department.
What if the report lists activity in an outbuilding?
Outbuildings are included in the look when they are part of the property. The report lists them separately so you can see where the activity is and what it would take to deal with it.