If you are looking to sell or purchase a home congratulations! You are now entering the craziest real estate market in the last 20 years! Homeowners are scrambling for the best deals and you don’t want to get left in the dark. But if you have safely secured a home and are in the Option period, congrats! Your offer has been accepted and now we just have to make sure this home is not going to cost a fortune in repairs. The Woodlands,TX is known for large, sprawling homes with wood accents in design elements. This makes the area a prime target for termite infestations that could potentially cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home!
Because you are buying or selling a home in The Woodlands, TX it is important to understand how termite inspections and termite reports work so you can be sure your home is protected. There are two types of inspections that homes typically go through before the sale goes through: Termite Inspections and Termite Reports.
A termite inspection simply determines if there are active termites in the house on the day of inspection! These inspections typically find that there are active termites in most houses they inspect.
A Termite Report is a document that details the conditions of your home and gives advice on how to protect it from further infestation and what repairs need to be done to ensure the house is free of any risk of termites. These types of inspections usually cost upwards of $400!
A Termite Report should be obtained from a licensed contractor for peace of mind that your home is safe and free of termites, repairs have been made to the home, and you should be protected against any future infestations. You can save hundreds of dollars by simply receiving a termite report rather than having both inspections done!
Did you know that if there is ANY risk of termites in your house, it will not appraise at the price you paid for it? This could leave you with hundreds of thousands in debt on a home worth less than what you owe! You need to make sure your house is properly inspected to protect yourself!
But What Other Insects Are Covered In a Wood Destroying Insect Report?
You can expect a report to investigate whether the following insects are present: Carpenter Ants, Old House Beetle, Termites (Drywood, Subterranean, and Formosan), Carpenter Beetles, Powder Post Beetles.
Carpenter Ants:
These look like small black ants with a pinched waist. They eat wood and leave behind a sweet sticky mess called Honeydew that will attract other insects, mold, and fungus. These are very common in Texas, but typically prefer to live outdoors. If you see these inside your home, it could be a sign of bigger problems like termites. Also, their droppings (saw dust) will be found in mud tubes on the exterior of the house where they enter inside.
Old House Beetle:
This beetle is very common in the US and eats decomposing wood like drywall, beams, joist, plywood, etc. They are commonly found in attics and especially love humid environments.
Termites:
There are about 12 species of “drywood” termites in the US, but only 5 are considered pests to homes.
-Drywood termites, unlike subterranean termites, do not have a nest. They tunnel through wood and leave behind sawdust which you can see on top of the wood. These are called “shelter tubes”. Drywood termites swarm during mating season in January and February. If you see termites swarming in your home during this time, that is a big warning sign!
-Subterranean termites live in underground colonies that are much larger than drywood termite colonies. They will live in moist wood that is not exposed to light. To locate these termites, look for mud tubes leading from the colony to the wood.
-Formosan termites have a large colony and can cause major damage to homes. These look like ordinary termites, but can grow up to 2-6 inches long and swarm often.
Carpenter Beetles:
These beetles look like small cockroaches with 4 wings. The adults do not eat wood, but the larvae do eat small particles of wood to survive. They typically eat the same wood they inhabit so you will find them living in large groups of wood that is infested.
Carpenter ants, old house beetles, termites (drywood, subterranean and formosan), carpenter beetles, powder post beetles all have one thing in common – they all eat wood to survive! You should call CPL Pest Control company today to schedule your free inspection and inquire upon the Wood Destroying Insect Report!
Contact CPL Pest Control Today to receive a free estimate on your Termite Report services! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience! Don’t delay, call us now! Don’t trust just any team with your WDI Report! Trust the experts! Trust CPL Pest Control! We promise to go above and beyond to make sure the home you are purchasing does not maintain any Wood Destroying Insects! Call 281-683-6737, as always, ask for Chris!
Thanks for reading!
