Scheduling a termite inspection is an important step to take before buying or selling a home. Though termites are tiny insects, they can create big problems. They destroy wood and can cause unsafe living conditions and costly damage. If termites are present in a home, a buyer needs to know how bad the infestation is.

During a termite inspection the inspector will examine the entire property, including indoor and outdoor spaces to determine whether there are any live termites on the property or if there is any evidence of a previous termite infestation. The inspector will be looking for live termites, which often look similar to a grain of rice, or evidence of a previous infestation, generally indicated by wood damage or miniscule fecal matter. An experienced inspector should take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete a termite inspection. The duration of the inspection will depend on the size of the property, the amount of furnishings and other objects present. Clear evidence of live termites or evidence of a termite infestation that has not been treated must be reported on the inspection form.

Contrary to popular belief, termites can live in all climates, even very cold ones. They can also build underground tunnels from another location (such as a garage) to a home, so careful inspection is vital in all potential homes. A termite inspection is not included in the cost of a standard home inspection, so it is an additional, but critical, fee in the home selling and purchasing process. Treatment of a termite infestation in a home can also be costly, but it is even more costly to repair the damage that an untreated infestation can cause.

Additional Resources:

-- US Inspect: http://www.usinspect.com/faqs/TermiteFAQs.asp

-- National Pest Management Association’s information about different types of termites: http://www.pestworld.org/Search.aspx?keywords=termites

-- Integrated Pest Management: http://www.whatisipm.org/