Once you’ve finally found your dream house, it’s easy to be in denial of any flaws that friends and family point out. However, when it comes to pest control, the results of a termite inspection should influence your decision. At the worst, you should turn away from the property, but in some cases, you can work the issues into your negotiations. Use the following guide to figure out if you should buy a house with termite damage.

Identifying Termite Damage

As you tour a house that seems to live up to all your expectations, force yourself to keep an eye out for red flags. The first evidence of a termite infestation can be found outside the house, as these insects construct thin tunnels of mud from their colonies into the houses they frequent. If you see ridges in the dirt around the home’s exterior, you need to get a second opinion.

You might also see cracked or bubbling paint, which indicates the presence of pests behind the walls. Knock on the surface and any wood furniture and listen for a hollow sound—this means they were eaten out from the inside by termites. You might even spot termite droppings, or frass, which are tiny, oval pellets found in mounds, sometimes mistaken for salt and pepper.

Why You Need a Termite Inspection

If you spot any signs of termite damage in your prospective new house, it’s crucial to schedule a professional termite inspection. Whatever damage is visible, there’s likely far more hidden inside the walls of the property. Only a professional knows exactly where to look for termite damage while causing the least amount of disturbance to the house. Plus, you’ll need the credible opinion of a professional to approach the seller about their pest problem.

How You Can Use the Results to Lower the Selling Point

Once you have official confirmation of the termite infestation, the inspector can communicate the details to the seller and their real estate agent. By explaining what type of termites have infested the house and the extent of the damage they’ve done, the inspector can likely come up with a dollar amount of how much repair or reconstruction is required. Based on this figure, the seller may either wish to repair the home before moving forward with the sale or leave the repairs to the buyer—drastically lowering the price of the home to reflect the work ahead.

If you believe you’ve found the perfect house, don’t make the sale official before reaching out to Prior To Purchase Inspection Services, LLC. This Highland Heights, KY, home inspector offers comprehensive assessments of residential properties, so you can reveal the worst about the home you might move into. From the chimney to the crawl spaces, they will search your dream home for a minimum of four hours before reporting their findings. To learn more about their thorough work, visit the website or call (859) 802-8561 to schedule a termite inspection today.