Selling A House With Mice (Seller’s Guide)

Discovering mice in your home when you're trying to sell can feel like a nightmare.

But don't worry. While mice can certainly add an unwelcome surprise, it doesn't have to derail your plans. You can disclose the issue and still sell it.

Or just get rid of the mice and then sell the house - which is your best option.

In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know about selling a house with mice.

Can You Sell A House With Mice?

Selling a house with mice is possible, but it's definitely not a good idea.

Most potential buyers will be discouraged by the presence of mice. It raises concerns about hygiene, potential property damage, and the cost of extermination.

Also Read: How Much Can I Sell My House For?

Even if a buyer is willing to overlook the mice, they'll likely offer a lower price to account for the cost of dealing with the infestation.

This could be as high as 20%! Getting rid of the mice won’t cost that much.

Your best option is to take care of the mouse infestation, and then sell it.

But if you absolutely don’t want to do it, you can offer closing cost credits and ask the buyer to take care of it, or sell the house as-is.

Do You Have To Disclose Mice When Selling A House?

Yes, you may be legally required to disclose a mouse infestation when selling a house.

The exact disclosure laws depend on your state, but some seller disclosure forms will ask for past or present mice problems. Other forms will use the general term "pests".

Intentionally hiding the issue could lead to legal trouble if the buyer discovers it later.

So if you're aware of a current or past mouse problem, it's best to disclose it - even if it's not strictly required by law.

Or you can just ask your real estate agent for their opinion - they have the experience.

How To Sell A House With Mice

Here’s how to sell your house while dealing with a mouse problem:

Also Read: can you sell a house with bed bugs

#1 Seal Entry Points

The very first thing you need to do is stop any more of them from getting inside.

Mice can squeeze through gaps and holes that seem way too small for anything to fit through. So take a good look around the outside of your house.

You need to seal up every single crack, hole, or opening you can find.

Check really carefully where utility pipes or wires come into the house from outside - mice love using those spaces to sneak indoors.

You can use steel wool or caulking to plug up those entry points.

Don't leave even the smallest gap, because if a mouse's head can fit, the rest of its body can make it through too.

#2 Hire An Exterminator

Now you have to get rid of any mice that are already inside your house. That's where you need to call in a professional exterminator.

Also Read: Pest Infestation In Distressed Homes

These are the experts when it comes to getting rid of pests like mice.

They know all the best traps and methods to use to find those mouse nests and get every last critter out of your home.

Plus, they give you some advice on how to keep them from coming back.

Make sure to get a report from the exterminator about what they did.

This report can be really helpful when you talk to buyers about the steps you’ve taken to solve the problem.

#3 Deep Clean And Sanitize

Mice leave behind plenty of gross stuff like droppings, urine, and nesting materials.

So after the exterminators get rid of the mice, you'll need to do a really thorough deep clean of your whole house. You may even need to remove insulation or clean out air ducts.

You have to disinfect everywhere the mice were living too to kill any bacteria or viruses they could have left behind.

Use a strong disinfectant to clean all surfaces.

You might want to hire a professional cleaning service if the mess is really bad.

Deep cleaning not only makes your home more appealing but also shows buyers that you’ve taken the issue seriously.

#4 Repair Any Damages

Mice love to chew on things to keep their teeth trimmed down since their teeth are always growing.

That means they may have caused some damage around your house by gnawing on walls, furniture, or even electrical wires.

You'll want to fix any of those problems and repair the damage before you put your house on the market. Buyers will be turned off if they see obvious rodent damage.

Also Read: Should I Repair Distressed Homes

Replace any chewed wires to avoid fire hazards, fix the insulation, and repair any walls or floors that have been damaged.

If the damage is severe, you might need to hire a professional contractor.

#5 Disclose And Market The House

Like I said, you may be legally required to disclose past pest infestations.

Don't try to hide it or be dishonest, as that can create major problems down the line.

So disclose there was a mouse infestation on the property and provide details about when it occurred and what remediation steps were taken.

You can also include reports from the exterminator and any contractors who worked on the repairs.

To make buyers feel more comfortable, consider offering a warranty or guarantee from a pest control company. This can help ease their worries.

FAQs

How Do You Deal With House Mice Humanely?

You can use live traps that capture the mice without harming them. Release them outdoors far from your house (ideally at least a mile away) and seal up any entry points.

Does 1 Mouse House Mean More?

Yes, seeing one mouse often means there are more. Mice are social creatures and tend to live in groups. If you spot one mouse, it’s likely that there are others nearby, especially if there are easy sources of food and shelter.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Mice?

If the infestation is mild, you can try trapping the mice yourself. Hiring a professional exterminator would cost around $200 and $600.