Getting Ready for My Real Estate Inspection

Termite Letters

When you buy or sell a home insist on a Official Wood Infestation Report (commonly referred to as a Termite Letter, Real Estate Report or Clearance Letter) This report is provided by. Your Mortgage Company and your Purchaser will receive a copy of this report. The Report States:

• Whether or not an infestation was found,
• What control measures would be required to eradicate the infestation, (if any)
• Did the home have a previous infestation of termites or other wood destroying organisms.
• Whether or not the home is under any type of renewable guarantee with the inspecting Termite Company
• And other important information

This is an important inspection and it should not be taken lightly. Your property must be inspected with-in 30 days prior to your closing. Order your termite letter with-in the 30 day window of your closing. If your closing is delayed you may have to have another Wood Infestation Report. Ask if your company charges for that second letter. It's OK if they do, but you may want to know.

Use your own termite company if you have one

Inform your realtor if you have a current Termite Guarantee on your home. When your termite company does the inspection and report your current Termite Contract can usually be transferred to the buyer. Making the inspection and handling the paper work for the closing allows your termite company to change the guarantee into the new homeowners name. Your termite company would be able to provide the new owner your home's treatment history and work orders for retreatments. Most importantly if you use your own company should termites be found during inspection, your termite company would treat the infestation as part of your normal guarantee at no additional charge. A Termite Company you are not under contract with would charge you to perform corrective treatment.

If you don't have a Termite Company you'll need to call a reputable one or depend on suggestions by your realtor, they usually know someone they like to work with. Some Termite Companies do free inspections including the written report, others charge a fee. Both will most likely send a qualified inspector to do the inspection and make out the report. Just get a price before the inspection begins.

Schedule the inspection

When you call a Termite Company to schedule the "Official Wood Infestation Report" you should have this information ready

• Your name, phone number,Who you represent, the seller or the buyer.
• Address of the property.
• State whether or not the property is occupied.
• Give appropriate phone numbers for the arrangement of the inspection.
• Give appropriate phone numbers for the arrangement of the inspection.
• whether or not the home is under any type of renewable guarantee with the inspecting Termite Company.
• Give the name and phone numbers to contact should there be a problem.
• Let the Termite Company know where to deliver the letter, or you can pick it up when the inspection is done

The Inspection

Make your property available for inspection. The interior of the home and all rooms must be made available to the inspector. The crawl space door will need to be unlocked. The inspector will be looking for:

• (A). Any of the 5 Wood Destroying Organisms
  • Subterranean Termites
  • Drywood Termites,
  • Powder Post Beetles,
  • Wood Borer Beetles,
  • Wood Decay Fungus
• (B). Any of the 3 Conditions Conducive to Infestation.
  • Wood to Ground Contact,
  • Cellulose Debris in the crawl space,
  • Insufficient ventilation in the crawl space.
• (C). Inspection facts and tips:
  • If a problem is found a solution will be offered.
  • A graph drawing detailing the problem will be provided.
  • A written proposal to correct the problem should be made available.
  • Price to cure estimate should be left with you for your consideration.
  • You can compare these figures with the other bids you get.
  • Some Termite Companies will allow the charges to be paid at the closing.

If problems are found

If your home has an active infestation of a wood destroying organism it must be treated and any damage repaired before you close the sale. Make sure these problems hare handled. You will most likely find yourself in court if you knowingly pass along a problem.

Only written bids or Estimates should be considered. Only reputable Termite Companies will leave you one. If a Termite Inspector is sure of what he or she has found they won't mind putting it on paper for all to see. (Keep this in mind)

Whenever a Previous infestation is found, you must assume some degree of damage was done. Usually a Licensed General Contractor checks to see if replacement or repairs are needed.

Home buyer tip

The relationship you start with a Termite Company will most likely be a long one. Even as the buyer of a home you can have some input as to which Termite Company treats the home you are buying. If your not satisfied with the Termite Company selected by the seller, simply pay the difference  in treating price and, get the Company you prefer.

Remember, the homeowners are trying to sell the home and spend as little as possible on needed termite work. Dirt cheap termite jobs with little or no guarantee can be yours if your not paying attention.

Here is an article full of helpful tips on getting your home ready for the inspection. It also tells you from a real-estate brokers perspective just what you might expect during your inspection.
Be sure to visit the REMAX Real-estate web site about Termite Letters.