In Texas, termite infestations are not uncommon by any means. In the U.S., termites are active in 49 of the 50 states and can cause more than $50 billion in property damage every year. If you’re buying a home, having the dwelling inspected for termites beforehand can save help you further down the line. If you’re taking out a mortgage, the likely hood that the lender will require that you have a termite inspection performed before the sale is finalized is very high. A termite inspection is typically an expense that the buyer incurs during the ten (10) day option period. Most home purchase agreements are contingent on the results of independent inspections designed to reveal hidden problems.
Termites can leave very little evidence of their presence until the infestation has grown for quite some time. The early warning signs of a termite infestation can be subtle and if you don’t know what to look for, it could go unnoticed for months, even years. The presence of termites doesn’t necessarily mean a home is unsound. The signs of an infestation could be from old activity that was treated in previous years or it could be new activity. If any termite activity is found, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. There are options that the buyer/seller can agree upon. The home can be treated for termites and all the necessary repairs can be fixed, which can still make the home a viable option.
A termite inspector can decipher more than just the warning signs of termites. Most inspectors can recognize the presence of other wood-destroying pests like carpenter ants, too. Again, if an inspection does reveal termite activity, don’t fret! The signs may be from a previous infestation that may have been treated in the past. If the home has been treated for termites in the past, the seller should also be able to provide documentation of a previous treatment as well as documentation as to where the activity had occurred. Buying a home can be stressful enough, finding termites should not be a deal breaker. Be sure to find an inspector whose company can handle treating for termites, in the event any activity might be discovered. By doing so, this will avoid any unnecessary expenses on finding another company to come out to complete another inspection prior to any treatment being performed.
