Buying a House? Get a Termite Inspection

Did you know that more than 5 million American homes experience termite damage each year? And did you know that all that damage adds up to about $5 billion? Unfortunately, many homeowners who experience termite damage end up paying for these expensive repairs out of pocket because homeowners’ insurance almost never covers termite damage. Buying a new home is an exciting and daunting process. If you’re buying a home—whether it is new construction or not—it is likely to be the largest and most important investment you ever make. You don’t want a bunch of insects to ruin it. Before you sign on the dotted line and start moving into your dream home, make sure you know if there are any termite issues waiting for you down the line.

While few states require a termite inspection, most banks or lenders won’t execute a loan without one. However, exactly what is required and how much has to be divulged to the buyer is all in the fine print of the real estate contract. Make sure to talk with your real estate agent and lender so you know exactly what kind of inspection is required before you close on your new home. And do some research on the home inspector that will be conducting the inspection—not all home inspectors are trained to be able to identify termites and termite damage.

If this is the case, consider getting a separate inspection or a second opinion from a termite professional. They will perform what is known as a “Wood-Destroying Organisms report.” This is a thorough inspection, performed by a licensed, pest-control professional which details any visual evidence of termites, termite damage or previous treatment for termites. This only includes what can be seen—like a real termite, wood damage from termites or termite mud tubes—and is not a guarantee that termites are not present. It just details whether or not any evidence of termites can be observed. Find out if the company backs up their inspections with a guarantee in case there is later damage.

Make sure you are present during the entire inspection so you can ask questions and ensure that it is done thoroughly and to your satisfaction. If the inspector does find any signs of damage, ask them to show it to you right away, let you know the full extent of the damage and if they believe it is ongoing—from a termite colony that is still living under you home and actively chomping away—or from a colony that is no longer there. They should also be able to recommend a course of action for eliminating an ongoing infestation as well as suggest the extent of any repairs that will need to be made to fix the current damage.

Look through the disclosure documents provided by the home’s seller closely. If you have trouble making sense of the documents, ask your real estate agent, mortgage lender or a friend who is good with documents to look through them with you. These will let you know if the home you are buying has ever had termite damage before, how much damage there was and what course of treatment was used to eliminate the termite colony. This is all-important information for a buyer to know and will help you to determine what the likelihood of a new termite colony attacking your home in the future is.

If you’re still worried about potential termite damage and want to protect your new home for years to come, we recommend The Sentricon® System. Nothing else has been proven to defend against invading termite colonies as efficiently and effectively. We were the first Certified Sentricon® Specialists in Oklahoma and have been using it for 20 years with excellent results. It is the only thing we use to protect our own homes and the only thing we recommend to our customers to protect theirs.

If you have any other questions about termites, termite prevention or termite elimination, contact your Oklahoma termite experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form. Our service areas in Northeast Oklahoma include Bixby, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Owasso, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Stillwater, Tulsa, and the surrounding areas. In Central Oklahoma, we service Edmond, Moore, Oklahoma City, Yukon, and the surrounding areas. You can also connect with us on social media for more helpful pest control tips and information.