Scratching in the ceiling at dusk, droppings along the back of a pantry shelf, a chewed corner on a bag of dog food in the garage — rodents announce themselves in small ways before they become a real problem. By the time you're hearing movement overhead at the same time every night, there is usually a resident population, not a wanderer.
A rodent job that holds up starts with finding the way in, not with setting traps. That means a full exterior walk looking at roofline junctions, soffit returns, gable and dryer vents, weep holes, the gap where a slab meets brick, plumbing and A/C line penetrations, and anywhere a tree limb or run of ivy gives access to the roof. On raised homes, the underside gets the same attention: torn belly wrap, open crawl vents, and gaps where ductwork passes through the floor. Attics get inspected for runways in the insulation, droppings, rub marks along joists, and damaged wiring or duct board.
From there, sealing comes before, or alongside, trapping. Entry points get closed with materials rodents can't chew through — sheet metal, hardware cloth, mortar where appropriate — rather than foam or caulk alone, which buys a few weeks at best. Trapping inside runs until activity stops, which usually means a return visit or two rather than a single appointment. Exterior bait stations, if used, are tamper-resistant and placed along travel routes, not scattered. Where there's heavy contamination, cleanup and insulation replacement can be part of the conversation.
Price tracks the building, not the number of mice. A slab home with a tight roofline and three obvious gaps is a straightforward job. An older Mandeville house on piers, with a metal roof, add-on rooms built at different times, and a detached garage, has far more linear feet to inspect and seal. Access matters too: a low-clearance crawl space or an attic packed with storage slows everything down. Roof rats in the attic generally cost more to resolve than mice in a kitchen, because the sealing work happens at height. Follow-up visits, insulation removal, and sanitizing are separate line items you should see spelled out.
Around here, the calls spike when the weather turns in fall and again after heavy storms knock limbs onto roofs or flood out burrows near the bayous and drainage ditches. Oak and pine canopy over a roof is the single most common reason a Northshore house gets roof rats, and trimming branches back is often part of the fix.
Ask whether exclusion is included or quoted separately — a company that only sets bait is selling you a subscription, not a solution. Ask what materials they seal with and whether the work is warranted. Ask how many follow-ups are planned and what happens if you still hear activity afterward. Ask whether they'll check the attic and the crawl space, not just the interior. And ask who handles dead rodent odor if one dies in a wall, because it happens.
Palus Property Defense is licensed and insured, works with licensed contractors, offers free estimates and a satisfaction guarantee, and can often get out the same day. We cover Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs and Baker, Monday through Friday, 8AM to 6PM. Call to set up an inspection — phone is the way to reach us.