Look, I’ve been doing building inspections since before smartphones existed – and let me tell you, there’s some stuff that shows up again and again. After crawling through literally thousands of Brisbane properties, you start to see patterns.

## **The Usual Suspects**

First things first… termites. Yeah I know, not exactly shocking news in Queensland. But here’s the thing – most people think they’ll spot termite damage themselves. Nope. These little buggers are sneaky.

I remember this one house in Paddington, looked perfect from the street. Beautiful queenslander, fresh paint job, the works. The owner was convinced there were no pests. Found active termites in THREE separate areas. They’d been there for years, just munching away behind the walls.

## **What We Actually Find**

**Termites and White Ants**
– Mud tubes running up your walls (dead giveaway)
– Hollow sounding timber when you tap it
– Those weird little pellets that look like sand
– Damaged skirting boards that crumble when touched

But termites aren’t the only party crashers…

**Borers**
These guys love your floorboards. You’ll see tiny holes, like someone went crazy with a pin. Usually in older homes, especially those built before the 1980s.

**Cockroaches**
Everyone’s favourite. German cockroaches in kitchens, American cockroaches in drains. If you’re seeing them during the day? That’s a bad sign. Real bad.

## **The Sneaky Stuff People Miss**

Here’s where experience matters. Last week I’m inspecting this place in Chermside. Everything looks mint… except I notice this tiny water stain in the corner of the garage ceiling.

Turns out? Major roof leak that’d been going for months. Created the perfect environment for:
– **Black mould** (the nasty stuff)
– **Silverfish** (they love damp paper and insulation)
– **Moisture ants** (yep, that’s a thing)

## **Why Location Matters in Brisbane**

Different suburbs, different problems:

**Near the river?** Think moisture issues. Subfloor ventilation problems. Perfect breeding ground for pests.

**Older suburbs like New Farm or West End?** More likely to find evidence of past infestations. Previous treatments that need updating.

**Newer estates?** Often see issues with landscaping creating pest highways straight to your house.

## **The Red Flags**

After 25+ years, you develop a sixth sense. Here’s what makes me dig deeper:

1. **Fresh paint in weird places** – Why’d they paint just that one wall?
2. **New skirting boards** – Often covering old termite damage
3. **Storage boxes against walls** – What are they hiding?
4. **Strong air fresheners** – Masking musty smells from moisture issues
5. **Refused access to areas** – Massive red flag

## **What This Means For You**

Look, finding pests isn’t the end of the world. It’s about knowing what you’re dealing with. I’ve seen people walk away from perfectly good houses over a few spiders. And I’ve seen others buy termite hotels because “it looked fine”.

The difference? **A proper inspection.**

We use thermal imaging, moisture meters, even radar technology. Because pests don’t exactly leave calling cards.

## **The Bottom Line**

Most common issues in Brisbane?
– **Termites** (50% of properties have evidence of past or present activity)
– **Borers** in timber flooring
– **Cockroaches** in kitchens and bathrooms
– **Spiders** in subfloor areas
– **Rodents** in roof spaces

But here’s the kicker – it’s not just about finding them. It’s about understanding WHY they’re there. Fix the cause, not just the symptom.

Got questions about a specific property? Give us a call. We’re open 7 days because pests don’t take weekends off. Neither do we.

Stay vigilant,
**Bryce**

*P.S. – That Paddington house I mentioned? The buyers still bought it. Just negotiated $45k off the price for termite treatment and repairs. Knowledge is power, folks.*