The Uninvited Pest!

When you prepare an offer to purchase a home, be sure that "uninvited guests" don't appear at the closing. The guests I'm talking about are termites! Although termite inspections are not always required, you'll find that most lenders will not approve a loan without one.

A report prepared by a licensed pest control company will show if there is any presence of termite damage, or if there is any evidence of treatment for the wood-destroying insects. It isn't a guarantee that there aren't any termites present - it only reports visual damage or treatment.

Who pays for the inspection? That comes down to local customs and negotiation and between the buyers and the sellers. When buyers pay, it’s easy to avoid any conflict of interest by being sure to use a pest control company that is different from the one currently servicing the home. This ultimately protects the sellers, too, because if problems show up later, it can be shown that the buyers conducted an independent and objective inspection.

Again, understand that the inspection and subsequent report will not prove or disprove the existence of termites, but buyers who ignore this important issue during the purchasing process could be asking for trouble later on down the road. If you have any questions or concerns, consult with the real estate agent and move forward with confidence.