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Need some advice on a house with pests history
I am a first-time home buyer I am interested in buying a house that is approx. 26 years old. It looks in pretty good shape and it needs some minor repairs... at least to the naked eye. The only thing that has made me back out from making an offer yet is the disclosure statement from the seller.
Here it is:
Is there any past or present damage to Property caused by infiltrating pests, termites, dry rot, or other wood-destroying organism? Seller's answer Yes, but doesn't provide further details.
Should this be considered a deal breaker and I should just keep looking for other properties?
I'm planning on getting an inspection on the house but does a regular inspection would be enough to determine the presence of termites or should I consider to hire a termite inspector?
The disclosure also states that the house is currently under pest control coverage, and it has been under treatment for the past few years, so, I guess bottom line my concern is more like: If a house has a history of pests or destroying organisms in the past but it is currently under pest control treatments then it is ok to considered as a potential purchase?
Thank you very much for all your help!
Re: Need some advice on a house with pests history
In some areas it's not IF a home has termites but WHEN. They are just more common in certain areas an as long as there is no structural damage, they are regularly being treated and there are no active colonies you should be fine.
However, ask your realtor to ask some questions about it. You don't have to make an offer and then figure things out. Be proactive!
Also, if you make an offer I would have a termite specialty company come do an inspection and recommend treatment. A regular inspector may find structural damage and may or may not find active pests. It should only be a few hundred dollars extra and is worth the peace of mind! The more eyes that are looking at your house, the better the odds of finding problems. Good luck!
We bought a house that had been treated for carpenter ants previously (according to the seller's disclosure -- he only knew that it had been treated previously according to the seller's disclosure when he bought the house.) Our buyer's agent said that was likely nothing to worry about, and just to see what the home inspector found.
The inspector actually found a small amount of termite damage in one area of the house but no active infestations. We asked the seller to get termite treatment for the area where damage was found, and we also asked them to purchase a one-year warranty for the whole house.
We'll just know to keep an eye out for those things, and get it treated if we find anything.
I would ask the seller for further information. Plus I would also plan on getting a pest inspection. We had it done on our house and it was only $50. Well worth the cost. Our realtor was actually surprised that given the age do the house we bought there was no termite activity since it is so common in our area.
In my state, Georgia, it's not IF, but WHEN. All homes here get termites. It's just a fact of life. And it shouldn't be a dealbreaker.
The good thing is that the seller has disclosed it. What you do now is you get proof of the transferrable bond--and that it's a repair and re-treat bond--and you get your own independent inspection. A qualified inspector will be able to tell you for $75-$100 the current status of the home--if there's any visible damage--and what the past trouble areas were/repair areas were.
You can find a qualified inspector by word of mouth, one of those home-services review sites, or by calling a pest control company and asking about it.
I would have no problem buying a property like this.
Our house is 85 years old. It's no surprise that at some point during the last 85 years there was termite activity. The termite inspection showed that there were once termites, it had been treated, and now it's a non-issue.
ETA: We didn't have a choice BUT to do a termite inspection. It was required by our mortgage company.
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Breaness,
Several of the top inspectors in my area are tied in with an pest company as well. Therefore, when he comes out for the property inspection, there is also a guy that comes out to inspect the property for wood-destroying insects, etc.
I would not say a previous pest infestation would be a reason to run, but I would definitely recommend having a pest inspector come out as well. Then, you would be able to make a more knowledgeable decision on the home!
Good luck!
Ask for more information but ultimately, get a termite inspection.
But the existence of termites is definitely not a deal breaker, the question is the cost of repair. If you live in an area where termites live, then they are everywhere. After 16 years as Realtor, I've had only 1 home get an inspection that did not have Sec 1 (active infestation or problem) on a termite report. They are incredibly common. So, the question, in my mind, is only the extent of the damage and the cost of repair.
So don't give up, just get more information. It can work out.
Good luck!
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