Buying or selling a home is an enormous transaction. It’s likely the biggest one you’ll ever make! It’s important to do your due diligence and have an inspection. However, you’ll also need one just for termites.
How Common Are Termites?
Termites are more common than you might think. They’re the largest threat to wooden homes, more than flooding or fires. Termites cause millions of dollars of damage to homes in the United States each year.
Termites thrive in warmer temperatures. They’re most frequently found in the Southern and Western regions of the United States. However, many species survive in colder climates. This means you’re at risk anywhere.
How Can I Spot Them?
Termites are often hard to spot until it’s too late. That’s why it’s so important to have a home inspected for them. Here’s some of the clearest signs of termite infestation:
- • Wood sounds hollow.
- • Lots of discarded wings are visible.
- • Paint is bubbled or cracked.
- • Mud tubes exist outside of your home.
- • Wooden-colored droppings are visible.
Because termites are hard to spot, you should have an inspection even without any warning signs.
Isn’t a Standard Inspection Sufficient?
An untreated termite infestation can destroy a home. Unfortunately, they can take over five years to notice. By the time you know something’s wrong, it’s too late. Worst of all, most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover termites. You’ll cover all the damages yourself.
Termite inspections are necessary because they’re so difficult to spot. Most home inspectors aren’t properly trained to look for them. Professional pest control companies are experts at finding termites early. The small price of an additional inspection is well worth the investment.
We Found Termites – Now What?
Finding termites isn’t a deal-breaker. Termites are simple enough to exterminate. The key is catching them early. If the damage is minor, you’ll negotiate how treatment costs are split. Typically, the service must be completed before the sale is completed.
If major structural damage is revealed, the sale could be jeopardized. The buyer may be able to back out, and the lender could refuse the loan.
To be safe, you should schedule another inspection every two or three years, even if nothing was found.
Protect your future by reaching out to Preventive Pest Control for your termite inspection. They’ll be able to check for pests and get rid of them immediately!
Schedule an appointment with our professional service technicians now!