Termite damage, no matter how small it is, is not good for the home. Any termite damage found during the real estate inspection can affect the outcome of the home. In most cases, the buyer is told that the seller will fix the problem. While this may sound good to some buyers and the seller will treat the termites, other buyers are often skeptical.
Of course, it is nice to know that the seller will pay to treat the termite problem, which will usually cost around $1,000. Although the termites will go away, you have to wonder about the damage to the structure. In more severe cases, the damage to the structure can cost up to 50 times the cost of treatment. The last thing you want is to move into a home that you know has been treated for termites, only to find its structure in very poor condition.
If any type of damage has been done to the wood structure of your home, you may need to make repairs immediately. While some of the damage may be visible, there are other types of damage that may not be visible to the naked eye. In order to find out the severity of the damage, you will need to lift carpets, move furniture and appliances, open walls and ceilings, and may even need to do some types of excavation. This is the only way to determine the extent of the damage, especially in the case of termites. If you don’t inspect every area of the home, you could move into a home with serious structural damage – which could cost you thousands of dollars to fix.
There could also be potential damage present. To determine this, you will need to have your home tested for intrusiveness and damage, which will be performed by a qualified contractor and expert. This will help determine the extent of the damage and the cost of any needed repairs. However, this can be very expensive, although it is the only way to find and repair any potential damage.
A destructive and invasive test can cost you an arm and a leg, although you will need to have this done if you suspect termites or know for a fact that the home has been treated. To protect yourself, you should obtain treatment and repair records before you buy a home. If you are renting the home, you will need to get written documentation from an expert detailing the damage to the home and the cost of repairs.
You should always have your home inspected for termites before you buy it. There are many termite inspection companies nowadays, and many of them go out of their way to inspect homes for any type of termite damage. You do not want to buy a house only to find out that it has been infested with termites. If you have a proper inspection before you buy, you will know that you do not have to worry about termites or termite damage.
If the inspector or contractor does not find any termite damage, you should always document it. That way, if termite damage does exist, you will have the documentation to back you up. Termites can be very destructive to your home, especially if you are looking at a log home. Termites can destroy wood in a short amount of time, which is why you should do everything you can to treat the home as soon as you suspect any type of damage. If you know that a home has been previously infested with termites – you should really make sure that the structure is undamaged and that the termites are gone before you commit to buying it.