Purchasing 1st property, closing 9/13. Pest inspection question..

[John Cavaliere]

I'm purchasing my first property 4BR 2 1/2 bath. I plan to keep 2 rooms for myself and rent out the other two. The seller paid for a pest inspection. I read the report and it was just a visual inspection with multiple areas being marked off as obstructed or inaccessible. The invoice was for $35. Is this normal? I want something more thorough. I want to know what I'm buying. Any advice on dealing with this? Has he met his end of the agreement for buying the bare minimum or can I request something else? Is there something more thorough that can be done or is a visual inspection all they can do?

[Mike McCarthy]

John Cavaliere there's really no test for wood destroying pests. Inspectors know what to look for. In MD, I'd assume the biggest threat is termites, which are pretty visible due to their tubes up the foundation walls. That, coupled with soft wood in places, etc.

It sounds like you're in the clear - at least as much as any non-intrusive inspection can provide. But you assume if nothing was found in the accessible portions of the basement, the inaccessible places are probably fine too.