House Purchasers Be Careful: Termite Inspection

Termites are nasty customers. They’re almost invisible, entirely silent and have the potential to trigger substantial damage prior to a Myrtle Beach homeowner ever acknowledging they have an issue. Just uttering the word “termite” can make some homeowners shudder, and for excellent reason. Termites are active in 49 of the 50 states (Alaska is too cold to sustain them), and trigger more than $50 billion in building damage every year.

If you’re buying a house, having the home inspected for termites beforehand can relieve you of headaches later on. Actually, if you’re getting a home loan, there’s a good chance the loan provider will insist that you have a termite inspection (in addition to a general house evaluation) carried out before the sale is finalized.

A termite assessment (also called a CL100) is typically a cost borne by the buyer, but it is worth every penny. The majority of house purchase contracts are contingent on the results of independent inspections like termite inspection designed to reveal covert problems and risks:

Termites consume wood from the inside out. That suggests they leave very little evidence of their existence until an invasion is quite far along. Because the warning signs can be hard to find, it will probably take an expert to actually find them.

A huge termite colony delighting in the wood in a house can take in a pound of cellulose a day however it’s usually much less. That can lead to structural damage you won’t want to handle down the road. The presence of termites does not necessarily indicate a home is unsound, though, especially if the problem is fairly recent. A specialist will know the distinction.

A termite inspector can assist with analyzing more than just the warning signs of termites. The majority of inspectors are trained to recognize the presence of other wood-destroying bugs like carpenter ants, too.

If an evaluation does reveal termite activity, it might not all be bad news. The signs might be leftover from a previous invasion that is currently being handled. A qualified termite inspector will recognize the difference in between existing and previous termite activity and supply a guarantee or composed statement to that result. If the home has been treated for termites, the seller should also be able to offer paperwork of previous pest control treatment and any structural repair work that have been made to repair due to termite damage.

If there’s current termite activity on the property, it still may not be a deal breaker. In the Myrtle Beach area, termites are so widespread that having had a minor issue with them isn’t all that uncommon. If an evaluation reveals that termites are present but the invasion is small, and the seller is willing to have the home treated for termites at his/her cost and pay for any resulting repairs, the home may still be worth thinking about. This is one circumstance where it pays to obtain expert advice about the condition of the home and discuss the choices with your attorney.