EEK a mouse! Finding one mouse in the house often means there are more in hiding. If you have mice living in the walls, vents, crawlspaces, and any other areas of the house, ignoring them can lead to serious damage that costs big bucks to remediate. And if the mice are in the yard, chances are, at some point, they’ll be headed for the house.
TL;DR: Tips For Avoiding Pest Issues While Your Home Is On The Market
If you hear scratching in the walls or spot mouse droppings, don’t wait. Mice multiply quickly, chew through insulation and wiring (posing fire risks), and carry dangerous diseases. Ignoring the problem can lead to major property damage and health hazards. Prevention and fast action are key.
The Mice Draw
Just about any type of food, nesting, and water source brings mice, voles, moles, and other rodents to warmth and shelter. Clutter and trash lead to pest infestations in houses, warehouses, garages, and just about any other kind of building. Leftover bird food scattered on the ground is a feast for mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks.
Related Links
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- Do Cats Keep Mice Away?
Open trash bins, garden scraps, and nature’s food sources (from trees and shrubs) provide nourishment to mice and other wildlife. Keeping pests out of the compost pile is also very important.
Mice In The Walls
Cold weather is one reason mice will head for the house, but the smell of food and water will tempt them, as well. Signs of mice in the walls include
- Noise: Listen for scratching, chewing, and scampering sounds.
- Chew marks: Look for teeth marks in drywall, wood, and other materials.
- Smells: Mouse urine smells like ammonia.
- Droppings: Check for small pellets of rodent poop.
- Nesting materials: They use shredded paper, cloth, cotton, and other materials to build their beds.
Ignorance is NOT Bliss
Ignoring the signs of a rodent infestation can cost you a lot of money in the long run.
Mice chewing on electrical wiring can cost thousands of dollars to replace and repair. Worse… they may start a house fire.
Mice carry diseases that affect people and pets, such as allergies, rat bite fever, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and hantavirus. Pathogens enter human and animal bodies by way of direct contact, bites, breathing in air, and eating foods contaminated with saliva, feces, and urine.
Mice in the attic, walls, crawlspace, and vents are damaging everything—they must gnaw and chew to build nests and keep their teeth healthy. Rodents rip through attic insulation and wall foam to use for nesting material.
Where there’s one, there are more—mice emit scents to attract other mice. These prolific varmints breed up to 7 times a year, producing an average of 7 babies each time. Babies become adults and then… Well, you know what happens. Ignoring the population boom can become a serious infestation within a couple of years.
The Cost Of Ignorance
The expense of home improvement repairs varies around the country, depending on location and the area’s cost of living. But one thing is for sure—it’s not cheap. Wiring, woodwork, insulation, and home cleaning services cost money that home insurance probably won’t pay for. Hiring a pest control company can head pest invasions off at the pass, before they become serious infestations.
Prevention Intention
Prevent the possibility of mice, rats, chipmunks, and squirrels scurrying about the house. Seal openings in foundation cracks, pipes, gutters, screens, and vents. Even the tiniest crevices are tempting for small mice to push through.
Like all of us, mice have to eat and drink, and they’re always out looking for their next meal. Secure all food sources by keeping edibles stored in airtight containers. Clean up crumbs and spills—both inside and outside.
Mouse traps help to deter vermin from entering the house.
Clean up trash and scraps, especially debris that can be used as nesting materials.
Natural repellents like ammonia and peppermint oil may deter rodents.
Contact a pest control professional for large infestations.
Having a clean, pest-free home is important for health and safety, but also for when you want to put the house up for sale. Ignoring mice in the walls will surely come back to bite you.
Key Takeaways
- Mice in the walls? You likely have more than one—and fast.
- Rodents damage wiring, insulation, and structures, increasing fire risk.
- Mice carry diseases dangerous to humans and pets.
- They reproduce quickly—up to 49 babies per year per female.
- Prevention matters: Seal cracks, clean food sources, and act early.
- Ignoring infestations costs more than prevention or early treatment.
FAQ
Q: I only saw one mouse—do I really need pest control?
A: Yes. Mice are rarely alone. If you’ve seen one, there are likely more nearby or hiding in your walls.
Q: What attracts mice to homes in the first place?
A: Food, water, warmth, and nesting materials like fabric, paper, and clutter all draw them in.
Q: How can I tell if mice are in my walls?
A: Scratching sounds, ammonia smells, droppings, chew marks, and nests are common signs.
Q: Can mice really cause house fires?
A: Absolutely. Mice chew through electrical wiring, which can spark and ignite insulation or wood.
Q: Will home insurance cover rodent damage?
A: Usually not. Most policies exclude gradual damage from infestations—making prevention key.
Written by guest blogger, Teri Silver – a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.
