The First Step: Inspection

Inspection is the engine that drives Structural Integrated Pest Management (SPM). It defines the problem so the solution is nearly self-evident—not a default to routine applications.

Why Inspection Comes Before Any Treatment

Pest management happens only at the customer’s property. Without a careful, systematic inspection, service risks reverting to perfunctory pesticide applications. SPM uses inspection to decide if, where, what, and when intervention is needed—aligned to goals like preventing annoyance, damage, disease risk, or regulatory violations.

Many structural settings expect very low or zero tolerance for pests. Inspection focuses effort on the right places, reducing disturbance and unnecessary product use.

The 12 Objectives of an SPM Inspection

Identify the pest to species and note life stages present.
Map distribution and estimate density to target work and right-size placements.
Estimate age of the infestation (recent issues often need less intensive effort).
Determine origin (on-site sources vs. introduced via vendors, deliveries, or occupants).
Determine method of entry (self-entry by crawling/flying/walking vs. transported inside).
Log conditions conducive to infestation (e.g., moisture, harborages, storage/maintenance issues). See Conditions Conducive.
Note sustaining practices—human activities that encourage pests. See Customer Coaching.
Diagram/map activity and contributing conditions on floor plans. See Mapping & Documentation.
Flag critical infestation control points (high-risk sites where resources support pests).
Set pesticide selection criteria in advance (site sensitivity, surfaces, moisture/grease, odors). See Pesticide-Use Policy.
Document findings with notes and photos to establish baselines and communicate changes. See Documentation.
Create a written SPM plan with objectives, methods (non-chemical and chemical if needed), rollout, and customer responsibilities. See SPM Plan.

What We Look For During Inspection

Building/perimeter issues: pipe chases, voids, cracks, false ceilings, hidden ducts, over-mulched beds, and overgrown vegetation that place pests adjacent to cladding. See Perimeter Modifications and Fix & Seal.
Moisture and building performance: bulk water and retention drive deterioration and create conditions for pests. See Moisture & Building Performance.
Storage and clutter: attics, garages, and outdoor storage that add harborages or attractants.

SPM recognizes most infestations are symptoms of construction, operation, maintenance, and sanitation deficiencies—not a lack of pesticide.

Monitoring vs. Inspection

Inspection is fundamental in structural settings and guides each visit. Formal, trap-based monitoring with intensive records is generally impractical for typical homes/businesses and most useful when required or compensated (e.g., audited food/pharma facilities).

Situational monitoring can be appropriate, including insect light traps for indoor flies, pheromone/food-based traps for stored-product moths and beetles, and subterranean termite monitoring stations. Sticky traps can be moderately useful for some indoor cockroach populations but are relatively ineffective for ants and bed bugs. Learn more in Monitoring vs. Inspection and SPM for Regulated Facilities.

From Findings to Actions

Inspection findings translate into a site-specific mix of tactics:

Sanitation (“clean/remove”): remove debris/harborages; eliminate practical food/water. See Conditions Conducive.
Repairs (“fix/seal”): seal cracks/crevices, replace compromised components, add screens and door sweeps. See Fix & Seal.
Perimeter adjustments: adjust grade, set back/trim vegetation, and use practices that discourage pests at the foundation–landscape interface. See Perimeter Modifications.
Customer coaching: focus on the one or two highest-impact items first; handle lesser issues after major ones. See Customer Coaching.
Targeted pesticides (when needed): never routine calendar applications; match formulation and method to site conditions and sensitivity. See Pesticide-Use Policy.

Who Performs the Inspection?

Pest management occurs at the customer’s site, performed by trained service professionals who are problem preventers and problem solvers—not routine applicators. Training emphasizes inspection skills, building ecology, non-chemical tactics, and knowing when not to apply products. See Technician Training for SPM and the overall SPM framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

To define the problem: identify the pest and conditions, locate activity and high-risk points, and determine origins and entry so actions are targeted and efficient.

No. Formal monitoring is situational and most useful when required or for specific targets. Inspection guides decisions for typical structural accounts.

Sites at greatest risk for entry or infestation—areas where resources cluster and pests are most likely to persist. These locations receive focused effort.

Notes, photos, and diagrams create a baseline, communicate with customers, and reveal patterns over time—feeding directly into the written SPM plan.

Address the top one or two high-impact items first (often a moisture correction plus a storage/harborage change). Lesser issues follow once the big wins are in place. See Customer Coaching.