Are you ok with not knowing about tiny little bugs are eating your house, or being one of the many people who contribute to the $5 billion spent annually by homeowners to combat termites? I fully believe this little WDI inspection falls into the category of; It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
You found a house you really love and you don’t want to lose it the termite task can be daunting but you’ll want to know in advance if there are wood-destroying insects munching away. Keep in mind that finding out a home has termites is not necessarily a deal breaker.
If the WDI report does show termites, you will get a handy little sketch of where those nasty suckers are hanging out. You can ask then additional questions regarding the size of the colonies, age, level of current damage, etc. It takes a while for a colony to fully form but once they get going they can eat through the wood very quickly. It is better to know in advance and get a treatment plan in place. Most times the seller will even pay for the treatment.
It is a good idea to keep your home as free as possible from conductive elements even if you don’t plan to buy or sell any time soon. Do you know what these elements look like? If you want to avoid a problem, here is a handy list that might help:
- Don’t leave pieces of wood laying around on the ground
- Treat wood with protection
- Don’t keep your firewood in a stack on the ground (particularly next to the house)
- Minimize moist environments around your house
- Use screens on your attic and foundation walls
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes filled with paper sitting around your home
- Make sure your pipes aren’t leaking and creating moist environments
Are you wondering if you may have these uninvited guest already? Well, here is another list of some things to look for:
Since I’m in Texas and Subterranean or Dry wood termites are the most common.
Subterranean termites:
- Large flying swarms
- Mud tubes (lines of mud that look almost like veins on wood and other surfaces)
Dry wood termites:
- Small swarms
- Groups of discarded or broken wings
- Small mounds of fecal pellets
- Mazes on the outside of the wood
There you have it, get your Termite inspections done. It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! Kind of like an umbrella, jumper cables, and clean underwear.
If you are considering selling your home or looking to buy another, please give us a call or check us out online at
www.solidrealtygroup.com
