When It Comes to Scorpions On Your Property, What Constitutes a Problem?
This is really up to each potential buyer as to the severity of any scorpion problem with a property. Each buyer’s circumstances will be different which increase or reduce the risk or issue in buying a property known to have some level of scorpions. If you consistently have 3 or more scorpions in a house each year, then there is a significant scorpion population around the home and more research and treatment is definitely warranted. Important note here: If you are looking at a property in an area like Cave Creek, then you are really moving into an area with scorpions and other wildlife so that this example may not be relevant. Personally, I would be doing this with fewer scorpions each year based on my circumstances. The point is finding your comfort zone and making the best decision for your and your family.
Here are a few more tips for home buyers and sellers in addition to my earlier post on scorpions.
Tips When Buying a Home If You Are Concerned About Scorpions
- Make sure you get the Seller Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS) from the homeowner when possible. The SPDS does have a question on whether the homeowner has scorpions on the property. If the homeowner indicates that they have seen some activity, ask specifically how many were found inside versus outside.
- Have a pest control company come out and do a search with you. I had this done on a home I bought. Unfortunately, the company found ‘traces’ but nothing else. The first night I closed on the home, I found eight! So, don’t rely fully on this option. Make sure you bring a blacklight. If the property backs to an alleyway, absolutely walk out into the alleyway to search.
- In my experience, the best way to find out if you might have scorpions for a given property is to ask the neighbors. The neighbors will definitely tell you if they have seen scorpions and how many. You will be surprised at what they will tell you if the area does have them. And ask more than one neighbor. Ask neighbors right next to the property as well as much further down the street. Ask the neighbors whose properties are right behind on the next street. Odds are that they don’t know the home seller personally and will have an excellent idea as to any activity.
Tips When Selling a Home and You Know Your Property Has Scorpions
- Disclose! Disclose! Disclose! Absolutely disclose even if you have only seen one scorpion in the last few years. Call out the number of scorpions you have seen and if they were inside or outside when you found them.
The Seller Property Disclosure Statement asks:
- “Are you aware of or have you observed any of the following on the property? (Check all that apply): Scorpions, Rabid Animals, Bee Swarms, Rodents, Reptiles, Other.”
My recommendation for a home seller is to disclose the number of scorpions found, where they were found, and over what period. For example:
- “2 scorpions found in the last 18 months, 1 inside the home, 1 outside the home.” The seller could get more specific as to exactly where but really, this disclosure has served its purpose to alert the buyer as to the possible presence of scorpions on the property.
The seller should be prepared that they may lose an occasional buyer based on the extent of any scorpion activity. However, there are many buyers with experience here and who understand that scorpions are just a fact of life in the desert.
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