Inspecting for Termites before Buying a Home

If you are buying a home as a main residence to flip it or to use as a rental property, you’ll want to make sure that it is structurally sound and free from pests. One way to do this is to have the property inspected for termites. During the inspection, the inspector will look for signs of damage such as wood shavings or signs of entry into a home. 

Having an inspection done is important because it is the only way that you will find out if termites are in your house. Unlike other pests such as carpenter ants, bees, or mice, termites will not run around in your cabinets or fly around the living room. They will stay underground or in interior walls where you cannot see them until it is too late.

If you know that termites are in a home that you want to buy, it is important that they are removed immediately. In many cases, insurance companies will not pay to have termites removed or pay for the damage that they cause. At best, you will only recover indirect damages such as a beam falling on your car, or the cost to repair your roof deck if termites damage the wood.

Typically, you will be given the option to inspect the property prior to purchase. If termites are in the home, it may be possible to get the sellers to pay for an exterminator or for any other costs related to damage caused by termites.