However, I wouldn't put it past him to try to pull the wool over my eyes.

you should seal the house. it is not expensive.walk the perimeter. fill any holes you see along the foundation with mortar, spray foam, steel wool, etc.then go in the basement and do the same along your rim joists and any other holes you findyou have to be thorough. mice only need a dime sized hole to fit thru

They take their shoes off and wear cotton booties around.

I just couldn't get used to chewing tobacco and cotton fields.

@Christopher Cotton I think you misread my post.

@Zach Cottone welcome to BP.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be doing business with someone like that and if he really did introduce you to the bank that you want to go with but he's pulling the wool over or whatever, you should be very blatant to the bank that you don't want to do business with him. 

If you use a simple clear poly instead of a bunch of stain then one tip is you can scrub with steel wool and re apply poly in just that section. 

Apparently, whoever put the vent caps on the roof (the last roofer), clearly was pulling the wool over the homeowners and inspectors, who missed this deception.

so when we did start doing something about it, it was already a full-blown issue.We've been trapping and sealing any holes in the walls with steel wool.