Buying a house is the biggest investment that most people make. Budgeting for the purchase and arranging the financing is rarely easy and the last thing you want to find after the deal is done and the payment made, is another unexpected big expense to cope with in the form of termites. Termite infestations are very difficult to spot and a building that looks picture-perfect on the surface may have serious structural issues hidden away. The cost of removing the infestation and getting major structural repairs done could ruin your finances.

What You Do Not See

Curb appeal is a major factor in purchase decisions. Studies show that when houses make a good first impression on buyers, many of them become subconsciously biased in favor of the purchase. This can cause them to overlook potential problems or underrate their importance. Termites are a case in point. As already said, spotting an infestation is difficult for the untrained eye and even if the signs are noticed, it is easy to be misled by so-called quick and easy DIY termite control fixes that claim to take no time and cost next to nothing. That is a big mistake.

It’s not just that DIY termite treatment is ineffective. The real danger is that once it is done, you may presume that your problems are over while the reality is that all that has happened is that the termites have been driven deeper into the structure where they continue to cause damage that is unseen until it reaches dangerous proportions that require huge repairs and involve massive costs.

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Also Read: Termite Treatment – What Are Your Options?

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Caveat Emptor

This is a Latin phrase often used in legal rulings. The Cornell Law School says “caveat emptor is a common law doctrine that places the burden on buyers to reasonably examine property before making a purchase. A buyer who fails to meet this burden is unable to recover for defects in the product that would have been discovered had this burden been met. The phrase caveat emptor is Latin for ‘let the buyer beware’.”

The only way to protect yourself from the risk of massive losses due to termite damage that is discovered after the purchase is complete, is by having a professional termite inspection done. The general practice is that the inspection is done by an agency appointed by the buyer. This ensures that the buyer has direct access to all the results of the inspection, so that there is no misunderstanding or confusion. If the inspection shows that there are no termites in the building, you can safely go ahead with the negotiations. If termites are found, there are two options available:

• The seller has the termite treatment done at his cost (preferably by the company that found the infestation).
• The purchaser asks the company that found the infestation for the cost of termite treatment to remove the infestation completely and has it adjusted against the purchase price.

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Also Read: How Termite Inspections Can Save You Money

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Do Not Risk Your Future

Your family’s future is tied to the house you are buying. It is not something you can take a risk with. Whether the house is in a termite-prone area or not, you must have a professional termite control company do an inspection before making a decision to buy the house. If termites are found, the company will be able to offer you several effective termite treatments including termite tenting and eco-friendly options.

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