Let’s Talk Real Estate        Article for wk 6/20/11

Or rather…what’s eating your house?  First thing I have to disclose is that I’m not a licensed pest inspector/exterminator.  However, I have been present and have read through possibly 100’s of “Wood Destroying Insect Reports.”  I’ve been there holding my clients’ hand as the sheetrock (which to them is their beloved dining room, kitchen or bathroom wall) was cut away so we can check for damage.  I’ve held handfuls of dirt with live, active termites scurrying everywhere looking for cover.  I’ve even bought a personal home, which got a “clean” termite report, and then 2 days after closing found the $6,000-$7,000 worth of termite damage to the support beams.  Now that was fun…it involved the Department of Agriculture and attorneys.  I don’t want that to happen to you.

To say the least, I’m particularly sensitive to termite issues.  I have the “termite talk” with every seller that works with me…”If they find termites, you will have to treat.”   Then when they find them, I have to remind them that we had this talk when we listed the house.  But let’s say you bought the house; no active termites or no new damage, plus it already has a termite contract in place.  Great!  So, a couple of years down the road you decide not to renew the contract.  Why is that I wonder?  Oh…. you don’t want to pay the money.  I get that.  Approximately $125 or so to keep the contract in place, so if active termites are found again, the termite company will treat for free, saving you approximately $900-$1500.  And, depending on the contract, may even repair any damage found.  It’s insurance.  Like any other insurance, you weigh the risk against the cost.

However, with termites, I’ve learned that getting your home treated will kill active termites and will establish a chemical barrier to prevent access to your home from new termites.  That is until the barrier is compromised.  But folks, these guys are tiny.  Just a very small patch of wet wood is all they need, if that much.  Plus, you need to know that termites live in colonies in the dirt.  If you have had termites before, even if you treated your home, those guys didn’t pack their bags and move away.  They’re still there, in the dirt, looking for something to eat.  Just eating; searching and eating.  Eat, eat, eat.  That’s all they do.  They need only moist soil, warm weather and some wood.  Have you noticed how much warm, moist weather we seem to have around here?  Perfect conditions.

I had an “almost” client call me a while back and tell me the termites had eaten up his wall, eaten through the sheetrock and then through the matt board of his certificate hanging on the wall and was waving at him through the glass.  I say an “almost” client because he was one of those that you work with and work with and then they buy from a For Sale By Owner.  (A perfect example of why we should use Buyer Representation Agreements….which is another article for another day.)   My point is if they were there before, they are still there.  This guy admitted that he just didn’t want to renew his contract.  Hadn’t had any problems, so it didn’t seem necessary.

Please make sure you have annual inspections, keep your home under contract with a reputable company (opposed to not-so-reputable companies) and keep an eye out for “conducive conditions.”  Your licensed professional can educate you on what you can do to minimize exposure and what to look for.  But don’t be naïve or lulled into thinking that just because you can’t see them, they’re not there.  They’re there and they’re making babies!

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