Performing a Rodent Inspection

Review paperwork, both on your phone and on your service route log at the beginning of your day

and before you travel to the bid location. Pay attention to COW notifications, client concerns, or any other special remarks. Remember: We are not salespersons; we are problem solvers.

1. Confirm the street address to make sure you are at the correct building(s).
2. Time into this account via mobile or on the paperwork.
3. Review the Order Instructions and Location Instructions. Review your route log for hand-written notes.
4. Bring your flashlight and shoe covers to the door.
5. Ring the doorbell or knock; step back to give personal space.
6. Greet the client, introduce yourself, and identify that you are with Good Earth Pest Company.
7. Ask about their rodent problem. Be an active listener and hear their concerns. Pay attention to where the problem is observed and collect as much information as you can. If they want to show you something, then go look at it whether it helps or not it will validate their concern.
8. Return to your vehicle and grab all your equipment. Clip board with blank Exclusion Field Sheet, pen, mirror, screwdriver, and knee pads to begin your inspection.

First, you will be inspecting the exterior of the building. Find a starting point such as a fence or a corner.

1. Do a lap around the structure making a map of the footprint on your Field Sheet.
2. On the first lap around the structure, focus either up high near the eave line or down low at the foundation. Once you’ve gone around the first time, do a second lap focusing on the other area.
3. Record needed repairs on the map as accurately as possible using the number in the legend. Circle the number when recording repairs that are not at ground level (unless it’s something obviously higher such as a roof junction.)

Always inspect the following areas:

• Check for any gaps under the siding using your mirror and flashlight.
• Check all foundation vents by lightly pushing on them. Inspect for loose screens or any holes going through the screen leaving a void of ¼ inch or larger.
• Look for any pipes going through the structure leaving a gap larger than ¼ inch.
• Look for any wires going through the structure leaving a gap larger than ¼ inch.
• Look for any holes in the siding ½ inch or larger.
• If there is an exterior crawlspace access check to see how well the access door seals.
• Look for any rodent burrows around the perimeter footprint.
• Inspect the garage door to see how well the bottom and sides seal. If it needs a new bottom, they will need to hire a professional to replace it. If only the jambs need replacing, include that in the bid.
• Inspect the dryer vent. If it is within 2 ft. of the ground or other surface and the current louvers are stuck open then bid to replace it.
• Inspect the stove vent. If it is within 2 ft. of the ground then it needs a screen.
• Inspect all person doors. Look at the bottom if there is a gap larger than ¼ inch it needs a door sweep. Look at the sides to see if it needs new jambs also. Some may need a new threshold if it is missing.
• Inspect all roof junctions looking for gaps or holes ½ inch or larger.
• Inspect all gable vents checking that the screens are in good condition and secure.
• Inspect all eave or soffit vents assuring the screens are in good condition and secure.
• Look around the eave line for any gaps larger than 1/2 inch.
• If the house has boxed in eaves check to make sure that there is drip edge flashing sealing the gap between the gutter and the roofing. If the house has tile or a cedar roof, then this is not necessary because it can not be sealed. Most metal roofs can be sealed.
• Inspect the roof vents checking that the screens are not compromised.
• If there are any parts of the house that are framed out past the foundation (like a bay window) its called a If the bottom is open to the subarea, there are two ways to seal it: seal off the bottom, or if its to low to the ground we can install L screen around it.
• L screen can be installed anywhere that there is no foundation or around a low deck we can’t inspect under, making possible roden entries.
• Inspect any chimneys to make sure they are sealed against the siding or where they go through the roof.
• Inspect brick walls for weep holes low to the ground.

For manufactured homes, there are two options for exclusion:

• If it is on a concrete foundation, then it may be open between the foundation and the siding. This will require removal of the “belly band’ to seal the gaps hidden underneath.
• If it has no foundation, then it will need to be “L-screened” around the entire perimeter including low-level decks.

Always wear a respirator when inspecting attics and subareas (or any space with reduced air quality).

4. Once the exterior has been inspected, next is the attic. Take a look and see if there is any sign of rodents. Look for droppings, trails in the insulation, or trails in the dust on top of HVAC pipes.
5. The next area to inspect is the subarea. If its interior access, grab a drop cloth and your shoe covers before heading inside. Ask the client to show you where the access is. Ask if they have any cats that could possibly jump down there. If so, keep that room door closed. Place the drop cloth down at the opening and open the hatch.
6. Look to identify if its rats or mice. Go outside and put on all your crawl gear. Grab the proper traps and head back in.
7. Get into the subarea and work towards an exterior wall. Working your way all the way around the edge, looking for any pipes, wire, sewer lines, drain lines, and any other gaps. Make sure to note what size they are. If there are any low decks or sheds against the house that prevented you from inspecting the sill plate from the exterior, make sure to check those areas from the subarea.
8. Once you’ve inspected the entire subarea, work your way out. Set the traps before you close the access, making sure to anchor them if needed. Fold the drop cloth in on its self to capture dirt and debris.
9. Once out at your vehicle shake out the drop cloth and nicely fold for your next use. Remove your crawl gear and shake out making sure not to inhale the dust.
10. Wipe down your respirator and put back in its container.
11. Add anything found in the subarea to the Exclusion Field Sheet.
12. Begin writing the bid by making the new map for the customer and transferring everything over from your first map.
13. Fill out the Exclusion Price Sheet. Each time you add a repair highlight it off the Field Sheet so nothing gets missed and everything gets accounted for.
14. Total up the cost and record it on the Total line. Add the corresponding overhead cost and subtotal to it.
15. Write in and subtract the discount for any existing customers or seniors.
16. This new total is the final price.
17. Fill in the rest of the Price Sheet with the house color and how long the job will take (about 120 dollars per hour for a guide). Add any special notes that will help the Tech performing the work and note any special materials needed at the bottom.
18. Fill out the Home Services Agreement. Our Premiere Program should be offered for all homes that can be confidently sealed.
19. Put the yellow and pink copy of the Home Services Agreement and the yellow copy of the Exclusion report in the bid folder.
20. Reconvene with the customer and review your findings. Explain the process of exclusion and our ongoing service. Make sure to answer any questions and leave the bid folder with them.
21. If they decide to go forward and sign the agreement, give them the pink copy and notify them that the office will reach out in the next day to schedule.
22. Make sure to let the client know that we will be returning in 1 week to check the traps. One week of trapping is included with the inspection.
23. Return to your vehicle and clip all paperwork together with the Service Slip on top. Secure all equipment and make sure your vehicle is safe to travel.
24. You are the first tech to be servicing this account, be sure that you update the location instructions with any pertinent information that other techs should know. Remember: Clients have access to your notes so they should always be professional and appropriate.
25. If it was a particularly pleasant interaction be sure to send a review invite via the Podium app (see PS.150 Sending a review invite using Podium Mobile).
26. Check off the account on your service route log.