Thread: Termite Damage, a Concern or Not

When termite damage is found during the course of a real estate inspection many times buyers are told, "no problem the seller will treat for termites".

While it is nice the seller will perform a $1,000 or so treatment the real question should be "Who will pay for the repairs to the structure that can be 5, 10 20, or 50 times the cost of the treatment?"

If wood destroying insect damage was observed to the wood structure of the home, repairs MAY be necessary. Latent damage to the structure of the home may exist that was not discovered during a visual inspection of the accessible components, sometimes repairs are expensive. Without invasive or destructive testing (such as opening of walls or ceilings, lifting of carpets or area rugs or ceiling tiles or insulation, moving of furniture or appliances or stored items or debris), or excavation there will be a risk latent damages may very well exist.

In order to determine if latent damages exist, it is necessary to have invasive and destructive testing and further evaluation by experienced contractors and specialists (prior to expiration of your inspection contingency period) to define the scope & cost of any necessary corrective action. Invasive and destructive testing is usually costly and the home owner is likely to require finishes be returned to pretesting condition. Obtain written documentation from an expert to determine the extent of wood destroying insect damage that has occurred. Obtain a treatment and repair history from the owner.

If your home inspector fails to tell you the above you should ask who is the inspector working for, you or another party to the transaction?



Home Inspector Michael Del Greco is President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., a New Jersey Home Inspection firm. He has performed thousands of home inspections in New Jersey. He has taught the New Jersey
Home Inspector CEU & Licensing classes and help in developing questions for the National Home Inspector Exam.