Occasionally I get requests from perspective home buyers for rodent exclusion inspections, on properties that they’re looking to purchase. I typically go in, do a thorough evaluation of the roof, attic, and grounds on the property and then I provide the clients with a written report and if applicable, a solution for existing issues. This was the case on a home in Spanish Trails that I was called out to inspect. The rat problem was very evident and I merely needed to document my findings with photos and descriptions of their activity.
When I arrived at the home, I met both the buyers and sellers, as well as the real estate agent and several other individuals. I guess when you’re dealing with a $4 million transaction, lots of people get involved. I was shown to the attic access and encouraged to go in and confront whatever was up there. Truth be told, I expected to wander around, take some photos, collect some droppings, and basically take notes on what I saw. That’s pretty much what I did until the point when I heard something move and saw an image from my peripheral vision. I stood still and listened closely for movement. I slowly began to look around in hopes of finding the source of the noise and movement. As I slowly turned my head, suddenly I saw a large rat appearing to be right on top of me and about to attack! Startled, I leaped back and swatted at the rodent in an effort to keep it away from my neck and avoid being bit. In the chaos, I lost my balance and began to fall. I tried to catch myself, but it was too late. I came crashing down and was certain that I would fall between the beams and through the ceiling. Fortunately I landed across two beams that broke my fall and prevented me from falling through. I laid there momentarily and pondered what had just happened.
Hearing the loud crash, several individuals yelled up to me and wondered if I was OK. Embarrassed and uncertain as to what to say, I sought to buy time in order to manufacture a suitable explanation. After a brief moment of silence I responded, “yeah…ill be right down. Give me a minute…”. I scrambled to come up with a believable explanation, but really I didn’t have many options in explaining what had just happened. They had obviously just heard me nearly fall through the ceiling and my credibility was completely destroyed. If I couldn’t successfully negotiate through the attic without falling, I probably wasn’t the right person for the job.
I made my way down and prepared for the worst – actually admitting that I fell and nearly crashed through the floor/ceiling. And then it came to me. Upon climbing down the ladder and removing my respirator, I was received with a series of inquiries about my well being and as to what had just happened. I went right into character and began to tell of what I had just experienced. Excitedly, I proclaimed that I had come face to face with a giant rat and attempted to capture it with my bare hands. As I went on, looks of fear and horror consumed my audiance’s faces. As I went on in detail, they began to connect and relate to what I was describing. I had managed to win them over and bring them on to my side of things. Just then I told of the rat fleeing and me making a calculated dive and actually having it by the tail as it dragged me across and through the attic. I assured them that I was never in danger of falling through and instead that I was at no time out of position, rather I tried in vein to capture the beast and although I failed, I would eventually be successful.
I paused to dust myself off and like a sports figure during a press conference, I fielded questions from the curious on lookers, with each response, bolstering my position with more descriptions of the fierce battle that had just occurred.
I wasn’t about to wait for instructions on how to proceed, rather I let them know what was ahead and how I would be handling it. Basically I walked in like I owned the place and acted as if what they had just witnessed was consistent with actual protocol and procedure. They all nodded slowly and seemed to buy the ridiculous fabrication of my version of the events. Seemingly cool and unfazed, I gathered my tools and made my way to the door. What’s that saying, “never let them see you sweat”? I needed to get out of there before the beads of perspiration that had formed at my hairline, began to run down my face. And so I did. The following day I returned and began the rodent exclusion process. And so went the occasion when I battled the human dragging rat that nearly put me through the attic floor

