Evaluating Your Property: Termite Damage

Of course, it’s nice that the seller will pay to have the termite problem treated, which would normally cost around $1,000. Even though the termites will be gone, you have to wonder about the damage to the structure. In the more severe cases, damage to the structure can cost up to 50 times the cost of the treatment. The last thing you want is to invest in a home that you know has been treated for termites, only to find the structure to be in very bad shape.

Termites And Structures

If any type of damage was done to the wooden structure of the home, you may need to get immediate repairs. While some damage may be visible, there are other types of damage that may seem invisible to the naked eye. To find out just how bad the damage is, carpets and rugs will need to be lifted, furniture and appliances moved, walls and ceilings will need to be opened, and even some types of excavation may be needed. This is the only way to tell the extent of the damages, especially in cases of termites. If you don’t inspect every area of the home, you could be investing in a home that has severe structural damage – which can cost you thousands to repair.

There could also be latent damage present as well. To determine this, you’ll need to have invasive and destructive testing performed on your home, which will be performed by qualified contractors and specialists. This will help to determine the extent of the damage and the cost of any needed repairs. This can be very costly, however, although it’s the only way to find and repair any latent damage.

To protect yourself, you should always get a treatment and repair history before you purchase the home. Make sure that you have the home properly inspected before going through with the purchase. Ask about their qualifications when it comes to observing termite damage. You don’t want to purchase a house just to find out that it has structural damage. A few weeks of research and having the home inspected would save you money in the future

Inspecting All Angles

Before you buy a home, you should always have it checked for termites. There are a lot of termite inspection companies out there, many of which go above and beyond to check the home for any type of termite damage. If you have the proper inspections performed before you make the purchase, you’ll know for a fact that you don’t have to worry about termites or termite damage and can proceed on with your plans for your new property.

If the inspector or contractor doesn’t find any termite damage, you should always have it documented. This way, if termite damage does exist, you’ll have the documentation to back you up in case you decide to rent out your new investment and for your own records. Termites can be very destructive to your property, especially if you are looking towards investing in cabins or log homes.

Termites can destroy the wood in little to no time at all, which is why you should always do what you can to have your property treated as soon as you suspect any type of damage, or not go through with the purchase if it isn’t worth it. If termites did exist in the home, make sure that the structure isn’t damaged and the termites are gone before you commit to buying.

As real estate investors, the most important thing to remember is research. We’ve said it so many times because it’s that important. Investing in real estate costs money, and you don’t want to potentially go into a bad investment because you skipped an inspection. Build connections with those that you want on your team and do some investing yourself! The people you have beside you are those that will make your real estate journey much easier.