If you are a homeowner that is lucky enough to have never had to deal with a termite problem thus far, you should count your blessings, but never get too comfortable and think you are forever safe. Annual termite inspections are recommended for good reason even if you haven’t come across any evidence to cause alarm. It can take several years of termites secretly chomping down on your house before you begin to see the damage they’ve created. It’s best to make sure you’re doing what you can do now to prevent a termite infestation or catch it early on before you’re stuck paying quite a bit out of pocket for home repairs. There are a few specific instances where you will want to schedule a professional termite inspection to ensure accurate results so you may take the appropriate course of action from there.
Buying or Selling a Home
An inspection is oftentimes required by the lender or insurance company before a house can be sold. If you are in the process of buying a home, arranging a termite inspection will allow you to know exactly what you are getting into before you’ve committed to the purchase. If no termite activity is found, you will be given peace of mind, and if there do appear to be signs of damage, you may have the choice of walking away from the sale, negotiating the price or working it out with the seller to take care of the situation. As a seller, you might not have any idea that termites have taken up residence alongside you, so an infestation hasn’t been disclosed, but if you’re serious about putting your home on the market, having a termite inspection done beforehand can be beneficial to assessing the problem before you have a potential buyer withdraw after their own discoveries come into the light.
Signs of Termite Activity
Any indication of termite activity means it’s definitely time to call in the experts for a termite inspection. Seeing swarms outside your home with your own eyes are never a good sign. This usually happens as a colony is relocating and looking for a place to settle in. Finding mud tubes in or around your structure reveals a termite’s means of travel into the foundation and walls from the soil. Hollow sounding wood is another signal of termites since they eat from the inside out, making them undetectable until the damage is already done. You should also keep an eye out for droppings and discarded wings, and if you notice any of these things, schedule an inspection right away to prevent further destruction.
Your Neighbors Have Discovered Termites
If your neighbors or another homeowner in close enough proximity to your beloved dwelling have uncovered a termite infestation in their home, it may be time to have an inspection done in yours. Although another house being treated in the neighborhood doesn’t necessarily mean termites are going to relocate next door or a few doors down, it can still be a scary thought. Speaking with your neighbors to determine some facts can be helpful in deciding what your next step should be, but it’s almost certain that you will want to remove all risk factors away from your home and then call a termite professional because it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Many people have false peace living in a home that is unknowingly being damaged by termites. It will be more detrimental in the long run if they just let these pests continue to consume their structure and furniture than if they take responsibility and have regularly scheduled termite inspections.
About the Author
Tiffany Olson writes regularly on pest control topics and has gleaned much information from her friends at Killroy Pest Control who specialize in termite inspections in Union City. When she’s not writing on or researching pest control, you’ll usually find her on a weekend road trip, cooking, or hanging out with good friends.
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