7 Tips to Ensure That You’re Buying a Termite-Free Home

With a home being one of your biggest financial investments, it’s important to make sure it’s in good shape before you sign the contract to pay. While a visual inspection is a good way to get started, it’s important to take a deeper look into the structure. Without doing so, you could end up living in a home that is infested by termites that have continuously caused damage to the property. To avoid this, it’s important to keep the tips in mind.

Tips for You’re Buying a Termite-Free Home

1. Don’t Buy Sight Unseen

If you’re buying an investment property or a home in a new area, it can be tempting to listen to an agent about the condition it’s in without actually visiting it yourself. In most situations, this is not recommended. It’s always best to see the home in person so you can get a more accurate idea of the shape it’s in. You might be surprised how much different things look when you see them with your own eyes.

2. Get a Home Inspection

A home inspection is something you should make a priority, even if it’s brand new. An inspector will look at the overall health of the home to determine if there are any problems you should be aware of. While they may not be on the lookout for termites specifically, they can bring to your attention any signs they do see.

3. Look for Signs of Termites

When you walk through the home, look both inside and outside for signs of termites. Inside, this means looking for tiny dark holes on the floors, baseboards, or walls inside of your home. In addition to this, you may want to look for white ants, which are actually light-colored termites. On the outside, this means looking out for discarded wings, tubes of mud on the walls, and damage to any exposed wood.

4. Have a Termite Inspection

Even if you don’t see termites outside or inside of the home, it’s highly recommended by the experts at Bennetts Termites to have a professional inspection done. This will give you peace of mind knowing that the home you’re about to invest in is truly free of these insects. Experienced professionals will do a thorough inspection of both the interior and exterior of the structure, so you won’t have to worry that you missed something while looking on your own.

5. Look at the Home’s History

If the home has been owned before, ask the previous owners or the real estate agent for information about previous exterminations. If there was one in the past, it’s important to have a re-inspection completed to ensure the infestation is truly gone. You should also ask the seller for paperwork regarding the previous termite treatment so you can read through what was done and which company did the work.

6. Look for Problem Areas

While it’s important to look for signs of termites already in the home, it’s also important to look for issues that may cause an infestation down the road. Things like cracks on the walls, a messy garden, or wooden items that are improperly stored can all attract these insects to your property. Even something as simple as clogged gutters can cause a termite infestation soon after you move in.

7. Always Seek Professional Advice

Most homeowners are forthcoming with important information about their homes, including any past or present termite infestations. However, many will leave out this information in an effort to sell the home as quickly as possible. If you have any concerns or have seen evidence of termites, then don’t take the homeowner’s word for it. Always seek professional advice from real estate agents and don’t hesitate to have an expert perform an inspection of the house.

Buying a Home With Less Stress

Finding out you have termites after purchasing a home can be both stressful and expensive. By taking the tips above into account, you may be able to avoid this situation and purchase a property with peace of mind. Although this may mean taking more time to get the paperwork signed, it will be worth it. And, if the home does end up having termites, make sure treatment and repairs are things you negotiate into the sale if you’re still interested in purchasing.

 

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