Should You Buy A House With Termite Damage?

You found the home of your dreams, only to discover termite damage during the inspection. Should you proceed with the purchase? We’ll cover how to identify and address termite damage before you buy your home.

Request pest inspections from sellers

Buyer beware. Here in California, sellers are responsible for termite inspections and any corrective work done. Let’s think through this: Imagine the seller is moving out and spending money on the move and their new home. How much do they care, really, about what’s happening in the current home, and how motivated are they to pour money into that property?

That means buyers need to pay attention. In our state, buyers can also request which pest control company they’d like to service that property, at the seller’s cost. With that in mind, make sure the pest company used has your best interest at heart.

Damage: what to look for

Watch for mud tubes outside the home. Check door frames, windowsills, eaves and rafter tails for damage. Touch, listen and feel for crinkly wood outside of the home — especially decks and porches.

If you see droppings that look like multicolored coffee grounds or discarded wings, that’s evidence of termites around the house. Water stains and damage could also signal damage. Is the roof straight or crooked?

These are all things that could help you make sure you’re not buying a money pit.

How bad is the damage?

Once you’ve done your due diligence and a professional has performed an inspection, you’ll want to know how bad the damage is. According to the National Pest Damage Association, termites cost more than $5 billion in property damage every year. That’s not covered by homeowners insurance!

The seriousness of the damage depends on how much time and money it would take to fix it. Is the damage cosmetic or structural? If you have something superficial like a fascia board that can be replaced fairly quickly without a big financial burden, that’s not as concerning. But if the integrity of the wood is compromised and you have to replace a huge beam, or the floor is water damaged, that’s going to cost you more.

Clearly, you don’t want to pay thousands of dollars to repair a home that isn’t even yours. You might negotiate with the seller to pay for the repairs so the purchase still makes sense for you.

Getting your own home ready to sell

When it comes to pest control, prevention is your best bet. Get regular inspections to catch problems early. Also keep wood, mulch, and leaf piles away from your home. Protect new wood put in your home with borate treatments.

Often, the only way to know if you have termites is to have a professional inspection. Calling an inspector is a wise first step in your home purchasing or selling process.

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