Termite Damage And Real Estate
Termite damage, no matter how small 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 normally 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 damage 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 latent damage present 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 suspect 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.
Before you buy a home, you should always have it checked 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 discover any termite damage,
you should always have it documented. This way, if termite damage
does exist, you’ll have the documentation to prove your case.
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Schwartz, is a Certified Residential
Specialist, CA licensed real estate broker with
www.Brokerforyou.com. Bob
has over 27 years of residential real estate experience, authored a
number of published articles and served as an expert witness for
San Diego lawyers. You can contact
Bob via e-mail at bob@brokerforyou.com or visit his highly popular
San Diego real estate website at:
http://www.brokerforyou.com
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