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I am currently looking to purchase a new home in NC. What sort of "evidence" should I look for to see if a home has termites, or has ever had them? I know a home inspector will find it if it's there - but I don't want to sign a contract at all on a home if I know in advance. Serious answers only please.

2006-11-01 13:36:36 · 11 answers · asked by Kristen G 2 in Home & Garden Other - Home & Garden

11 answers

Look for termite 'pellets'....use this website:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/termites

2006-11-01 13:38:35 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ Tracy ♥ 3 · 0 0

If the basement is unfinished, you will have the best luck in being able to see. There can be what is called tunneling in the wood....look in the wood floor joists above you. You have to look closely as it is easy to miss if there is only a small amount. For some photos of what to look for, try this website: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~entomol/gallery/gall_damage.htm.

When a home has been treated for termites you should be able to see places around the foundation and/or in the exterior walls of the home that are about a quarter in size that have been drilled out and patched. They are anywhere from a foot to 3 feet apart. This is the traditional way to treat for termites. More recently people are using baiting to trap them around the perimeter of the home. If this is the case, you should see green plastic things, for lack of a better word, around the foundation that stick in the ground. Check your property disclosures as owners (at least in Ohio) are required to disclose termite damage/treatment within the last 5 years.

While a Realtor is not a home inspector or termite inspector, most have seen homes with termite damage, and if it's a bad case, be able to point it out...make sure to ask him/her to keep their eyes open for it as well if this is a primary concern of yours....another pair of eyes never hurts. Don't jump to conclusions though, neither you or the Realtor can be sure one way or the other. If there is a questionable area, have the Realtor inquire about it and usually homeowners will be pretty upfront when asked directly if there's ever been an issue, even if it's older than 5 years ago. Just remember you can never be sure one way or the other until it's inspected, and if you really like a certian home and have major concerns, you can always see if the owner will allow a termite inspection prior to writing a contract. However if you do this, you are out the money for the inspection and you don't even know if the owner would take what you are willing to pay for the home and now you have to start over with a new house if you can't get it negotiated.

Make a termite inspection part of the contingencies in the contract and definitely have a professional check it out. Locally it's only about $50 and the home inspectors have their own termite guys (or girls) come out and take care of that during the overall home inspection.

Good luck!

2006-11-01 22:01:48 · answer #2 · answered by julsells 2 · 0 0

If you do make an offer on the home have a licensed termite inspector inspect the home. most home inspectors will look for termites but there contracts will specifically exclude any termite liability. When you make the offer list termites present or past as A contingency and don't let the Realtor pick the home inspector That's like a used car salesman telling you where to have the car checked out

2006-11-01 22:15:10 · answer #3 · answered by Larry D 2 · 0 0

First, ask the current owners what type of termite treatment or preventive measures they are using. NC is an active termite region, so every home should be treated on a regular basis to prevent termites. If they say they don't do preventive maintenence, your chances of having termites are already 50/50. (They are also legally bound to tell you of any infestation or past damage that they know of, but it can be hard to prove what they "knew" if you find out differently later.)
Also, look for infested trees and outbuildings or rotten woodpiles, it is a quick jump from those to the house when they swarm.
Around the slab or crawl space, look for little mud tunnels going over the concrete from the ground to the wood framing; and for small holes in the timber or fine sawdust piles. Take a screwdriver and poke at any suspicous looking wood to see if it crumbles and reveals tunnels or even an active colony (you'll know it when you see it).
Good Luck!

2006-11-01 23:05:30 · answer #4 · answered by Ro-bot 5 · 0 0

Since termites chew wood always find evidence of ants that chew in my garden a little pile of very fine wood-similar to saw dust but much finer-so look for evidence along baseboards along the floors-anywhere there is wood-or oany type of material for termites are found in any building medium- look for any small pieces of wood or even grains that appear to be, look similar to sand-also look for tiny holes that may be entry or exit holes and even wood that has small areas that appear to be sanded esp along the edges. The same you need to look on the outside esp checking around the foundation also walk around the property checking for ant hills depending on the size of th property some ant hills further from the house are beneficial for they work th soil so usually to see what kind of ant just at the very edge of the anthill disturb it a little bit and they'll come and see what is going on-since termites have wings and are small easy to tell from other ants.NEVER SIGN A CONTRACT until the Home Inspection has been done and is satisfactory to you-BY LAW the home seller has to have a current Termite Inspection to show prospective buyers.You can tell the seller you are interested but insist on inspection for entire home be done before contract even discussed there are structural problems that can only be recognized by professional and which can be costly make sure that all is ok as it should be before you sign. Seller should be eager to do this if not beware

2006-11-01 21:55:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

If your not sure what termite infestation looks like take a sharp object like an awl or a screw driver and "test" the wood in those areas near the foundation and or basement floors , beams etc. The wood should be solid. If you find soft areas where you can push the sharp object right in you should have it checked. Sometimes the outer edge can be somewhat hard and the middle eaten or rotten so push kind of hard,

2006-11-01 21:48:38 · answer #6 · answered by beek 7 · 1 0

Isn't it a drag that you have to be in escrow before a termite inspection is done?

Any wood touching dirt or grass will be a candidate for dry rot and termites.

Look for piles of droppings near base-boards, window-sills, interior garage walls, exterior walls of the house. Droppings are small, course, pepper-like pellets that can be reddish-brown in color.

2006-11-01 21:45:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

you can of course look for physical evidence in all wood, under the sinks, hot water heater area, above the flashing outside. termites cause sawdust and holes. they can even cause sheetrock to bubble if they are bad enough to be in the bracing. look in all attic and under floor spaces...ask, see if the evidence of termites in the past is check on the sellers discloser...hire a independant pest control to meet with you and look.

2006-11-01 21:47:22 · answer #8 · answered by Cheryl E 4 · 1 0

Look for the official termite inspection report or have one done. In some locations it is the law to have one.

2006-11-01 21:41:59 · answer #9 · answered by Ed 6 · 1 0

where they can get in, look around the frame on top of the foundation and the lower level joist. see if there is damage or signs of infestation.

2006-11-01 21:38:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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