There are many factors to consider when buying a home. Among the most important is having thorough inspections done on the residence before signing a contract. Pest control services may determine that termites are indeed present on the property. Uncovering the damage that the pests have done can change your interest in a residence or at least place the treatment of the termites in the hands of the seller.
A termite inspection for homeowners provides peace of mind and answers about a possible infestation that needs treatment. Prior to buying a home, people should always have a professional inspection performed. That way, if the exterminator discovers a problem, it can be addressed before the buyer takes ownership of the residence.
SHOULD I GET A TERMITE INSPECTION WHEN BUYING A HOME
Unlike other seasonal pests, termites remain active year-round. The damage they cause often goes undetected, too, causing thousands of dollars in repairs not covered by standard homeowner insurance. You should always have a thorough inspection of a home that you're considering buying prior to submitting a bid on the residence because it saves you the time, money, and hassle of having the house treated for termites before moving into it.
As with a basic home inspection of the home's roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, having a termite inspection protects against unforeseen future costs. The house you thought you were getting a good deal on could very well be problematic because of a termite issue. As a way of preventing you from paying out-of-pocket costs, deciding who will pay for a termite inspection at the start of the buying process is necessary.
WHAT IS A WOOD DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION REPORT?
A licensed pest control provider supplies you with a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) Inspection report upon request. Most home mortgage lenders, including conventional and governmental agencies in Pennsylvania, require an NPMA-33 report. Lenders want to receive an 'all-clear' status before approving a loan for a property that is likely needing thousands of dollars in repairs to be safe and habitable.
Having the report in hand allows you to see any potential issues caused by wood-destroying insects such as termites before securing financing for a home. Lenders require the information because of the costs involved with treating a pest problem. There may be significant damage done to the home structurally that requires thousands of dollars in repair costs which can set a buyer back financially and inhibit their ability to pay on their mortgage.
IS A WDI REPORT DIFFERENT THAN A TERMITE INSPECTION?
A WDI report differs from a typical termite inspection because of the documentation involved. A licensed and trained exterminator with extensive knowledge of wood-destroying organisms such as termites conducts both inspections. A standard termite inspection doesn't involve the paperwork required by lenders requesting a WDI report.
WHO PAYS FOR A TERMITE INSPECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA?
In most cases, the cost of the service is negotiable between buyers and sellers. Veterans, however, are not allowed to pay the price of a termite inspection in Pennsylvania. If you happen to be a former member of the military, the seller must pay the cost of the inspection according to VA loan rules.
Most sellers pay for both the termite inspection and termite treatment if a professional discovers a problem. It's a good-faith measure that helps them retain the value of their home. After all, if a potential buyer backs out because of a pest problem, the seller must find another person to purchase their house or continue to live in it themselves.
WHAT HAPPENS IF TERMITES ARE FOUND?
During the inspection, the pest control expert can discuss treatment options and costs in the event termite activity is discovered.
If a homeowner doesn't discuss the findings of a WDI report, it's imperative that the prospective buyer requests a copy to be made available. Full disclosure is essential for both parties to remain comfortable moving forward in closing the sale. If access to the information contained in the report remains unavailable it may be that the seller is preventing the disclosure concerning a potential problem and the buyer should then contact a licensed pest control provider to conduct a separate WDI report on their behalf, or consider purchasing another property instead.
