Getting a Termite Inspection when Buying a Home
You Should Get a Termite Inspection When Buying a Home in Texas
In our years of providing specialized pest control services like real estate inspections for termites, we’ve found that a common question from both home buyers and home sellers is, “Why does my home need a termite inspection?” After all, who wants to spend more money than they have to? But, unfortunately, many lenders will require their buyers to foot the cost of a termite inspection before funding the home loan.
The primary reason for this is to protect their investment. The bank will be underwriting the loan for this home, so they want it to be a good asset that will increase in value over time. So yes, most home buyers are required to show proof of a termite inspection before securing funding for a home. If the house has been on the market for some time, the sellers can have the inspection performed at their expense. This sometimes motivates buyers. Either way, the inspection service must be performed by a state-licensed pest control technician.
Before the time of the appointment, you can do your own amateur inspection by looking for the following:
- A swarm of winged insects
- Discarded termite wings
- Cracked or bubbling paint
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Mud tubes on the outside of the home
These are signs of a termite infestation that can be a red flag to buyers about the home they are considering. If you notice any of these signs in a home you are thinking about buying, you may want to bypass that home altogether and look for one that is free from the “symptoms” of termite infestation. Our pest control service routinely performs termite inspections on homes for sale; for more information, call BUGCO® Pest Control today.
