Termite Damage And Real Estate
Termite damage, no matter how insignificant it may be, is never good
for a home. During a real estate inspection, if any termite damage
is found, it will affect the outcome of the home. In most cases, the
buyer is told that the seller will fix the problem. Although this
may sound good to some buyers that the seller will treat for
termites, other buyers often wonder.
Of course it’s nice that the seller will pay to have the termite
problem treated, which will generally cost around $1,000 or so. Even
though the termites will be gone, you have to wonder about the
damage to the structure. In the more severe cases, damage to the
structure can cost up to 50 times the cost of the treatment. The
last thing you want is to move into a home that you know has been
treated for termites, only to find the structure to be in very bad
shape.
If any type of impairment or destruction was done to the wooden
structure of the home, you may need to get immediate repairs. While
some damage may be visible, there are other types of damage that may
seem invisible to the naked eye. To find out just how bad the damage
is, carpets and rugs will need to be lifted, furniture and
appliances moved, walls and ceilings will need to be opened, and
even some types of excavation may be needed. This is the only way to
tell the extent of the damages, especially in cases of termites. If
you don’t inspect every area of the home, you could be moving into a
home that has severe structural damage - which can cost you
thousands to repair.
There could also be dormant damage pre-existing as well. To
determine this, you’ll need to have invasive and destructive testing
performed on your home, which will performed by qualified
contractors and specialists. This will help to determine the extent
of the damage and the cost of any needed repairs. This can be very
costly however, although it’s the only way to find and repair any
latent damage.
Destructive and invasive testing can cost you an arm and a leg,
although you’ll need to have it done if you are guessing termites or
know for a fact that the home was treated for them. To protect
yourself, you should always get a treatment and repair history
before you purchase the home. If you are renting the home, you’ll
need get written documentation from the specialist that details the
damage to the home and cost of repairs.
Prior to buying a home, you should always have it inspected for
termites. There are a lot of termite inspection companies out there,
many of which go above and beyond to check the home for any type of
termite damage. You don’t want to buy a home only to find out that
it has been infested with termites. If you have the proper
inspections performed before you make the purchase, you’ll know for
a fact that you don’t have to worry about termites or termite
damage.
If the inspector or contractor doesn’t come across any termite
damage, you should always have it documented. This way, if termite
damage does exist, you’ll have the documentation as endorsement.
Termites can be very destructive to your home, especially if you are
looking towards a log home. Termites can destroy wood in little to
no time at all, which is why you should always do what you can to
have your home treated as soon as you suspect any type of damage. If
you know a home has been infested with termites before - you should
really make sure that the structure isn’t damaged and the termites
are gone before you commit to buying.
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