While a termite inspection isn’t the most fun thing to schedule in your life, chances are you’re gonna have to go through one sooner or later. And when the time comes, it’s important to know what a termite inspection means, exactly, and how it differs from a general home inspection. It’s also useful to know what outcomes you can expect before you call someone like Squash Pest Control in Seattle.
When you’re in the market for a new home, it’s likely you’ll hear it said you need to schedule a home inspection or a termite inspection before purchasing a home. And you might wonder to yourself… why? And is it really worth it?
What Is A Termite Inspection?
Let’s start with the termite inspection. The termite inspector will assess the state of your home solely from a pest perspective. Generally, they won’t just look for termites, but because termites are the most likely pest type to affect homes, not to mention the most easily concealed (many new buyers have no clue), that’s what it’s known as. Since a pest assessment can also point out other issues in the home that may lead to pests, the termite inspection is liable to clue you in as to the various weak spots in your new home. What they will focus on:
- Assessing the building structure and pointing out weaknesses;
- Uncovering infestation-prone areas in the house;
- Identifying poor craftsmanship in the building.
A termite inspector will come to make sure your home is safe from pests, such as termites, and that it doesn’t have any major flaws or weak points that are liable to attract pests in the future.
What Happens If They Find Termites?
Well, the home will need to undergo extensive treatment immediately since termites are a serious problem that can endanger the structure of your home. Typically, the costs are supported by the seller, and whether or not you still wish to purchase the house after this is up to you.
Bear in mind that it’s customary either for the seller to have a professional inspection done before the sale and be able to present you with the necessary documents attesting to the house’s condition. Failing that, you, as the buyer, should always ask for a termite inspection and a general inspection prior to signing anything. Otherwise, you risk purchasing a house with termites or other problems that will fall on you to fix once the papers are signed.
What Is A General Home Inspection?
Okay, so if a termite inspection deals with pests, what does a general home inspection handle? A home inspection, as the name suggests, has nothing to do with pests, actually, but rather with the house itself.
A House Inspector Will Assess:
- Everything from the foundation to the roof of the house, to ensure there aren’t major structural problems and risks;
- Plumbing, to ensure against leaks and other potential threats to your health and the safety of your home;
- The electrical situation is one of the key aspects of home safety;
- Heating system, since you don’t want to pay for a house that will keep you chilly come winter-time.
Keep in mind that a house inspection may stumble across termites or other pest concerns, but this is not their main purpose. This means they won’t expressly be looking for pests, neither existence nor potential future infestations.
On the other hand, a house inspection is just as relevant since it can open your eyes to many faults and dangers hidden by a pretty exterior. In some cases, the owners themselves might try to conceal these faults so as not to lower the asking price. But sometimes, especially if they haven’t had the home assessed in a long time, even the owners may be clueless as to what’s going on under the surface. Once again, since all structural, heating, and electrical problems will fall on you once you’ve signed and paid for the house, we recommend conducting a home inspection beforehand.
Are Both Inspections Worth It?
Since a home inspection and a termite inspection are looking for different things, both of which can pose a serious threat to the stability of your new home, we’d say yes; they are definitely worth it.
It’s customary for potential buyers to request a home inspection and a pest assessment before they actually sign anything. This means it’s expected of you, so you shouldn’t feel bad about it. If you were buying anything else, you’d want to make sure you’re paying for a high-quality product – it’s only natural you’d do so for a house.
