One of the most frustrating types of damage to deal with in your home is that inflicted by termites. These voracious and harmful insects can cause a massive amount of damage to homes. A big problem with termites is that many times, homeowners have no idea their property is even infested until it is too late. Often, they never see the termites themselves. However, if they are vigilant, it is possible to see signs of the termites, and this is something every homeowner should inspect for at least twice per year.
Finding the Termites
People rarely see termites coming into their home because these insects live underground. They will often make tunnels from their nest and into the house, where they start to feast on the wood. Others, dry wood termites, have their colonies right in the wood where they are feeding. They chew through the wood and create mazes in the home and even in furniture. These types of termites are commonly found in warm climates in the south.
First, head to the outside of your home and look for mud tubes that lead to the foundation of your home. This could be the path that the termites are taking into the property. If you see these mud tubes, it is a sign they are very likely already in your home. Get in touch with a pest control company right away.
Some of the other signs that you will want to watch for with termites include wood that sounds hollow when you tap it, discolored drywall, stuck doors and windows, damaged and crumbling wood, and termite droppings. In some cases, when the damage is severe you will start to notice structural damage, such as drooping ceilings and floors. They can also damage parts of the foundation.
Keep an eye out for flying termite swarms on or near your property, as well. Most of the time, people do not even realize that they are termites. When they are swarming, they are looking for a new home. They lose their wings before long, and they enter your home. You might find a few of them, or even piles of them around the outside of your home. Keep an eye out whenever you are outside.
While it can be difficult for most homeowners who are not experts in termites to find these signs, you do not have to do it alone. If you live in an area where there tend to be termites, you will want to work with a pest control company that can come out to your property and do an inspection. They can check for termites, as well as any other pests that might be on the property. Again, you should have it checked about twice a year, or sooner if you see there might be a problem.
You can speak with the professionals about the termite damage they find, as well. They can let you know how bad it is and whether you should bring in a contractor or foundation specialist to inspect the property. In some cases, you might be able to take care of the damage before it becomes too severe and the repairs might be minimal. In other cases, you might need to replace a substantial portion of your house.
Selling Your Home With Termite Damage
If you want to sell your home, and you have damage from termites, it will change things drastically depending on the extent of the damage. You need to make sure you deal with the live termites that are on the property as soon as possible to reduce the damage they are doing. Hire a company to come out and take care of the termites.
Once the termites are gone, you can determine just how much damage was done and how much it will cost for repairs to be made on the home. In some cases, your insurance might cover some of these damages, but this is not true of all homeowner’s policies.
In those cases where the damage from the termites is already severe, and you want to sell the property, there are a couple of options. First, you can repair the damage from the termites and then sell the home as you would normally. This can ensure that you are still getting a good price for the home, but it will give you a hefty repair bill to deal with, as well.
Perhaps you do not have the ability to pay for the repairs right now, and you merely want to get out of the home. It is still possible to sell a home, even if there is termite damage. You need to disclose that the home has suffered damage from termites, of course, but some investors might see the property as a good buy. They can often get these homes at a good deal due to the damage, and then they can make the repairs on their own. They can then resell the property at a higher price, or use the property as a rental instead.
If you have termite damage to the home, and you want to sell as soon as possible, make it a point to speak with an investor. They cannot offer top dollar for the property, but you can still get a fair deal based on the damage to the home. This relieves you of all of those repairs that you do not want to deal with, and you can then purchase another home that is termite free.
Termites Are Not the End of the World
Termites are dangerous and dastardly pests to be sure, but as you can see, there are steps you can take to deal with the problem. The sooner you act, the less it will cost to repair in most cases. Keep an eye out for these pests, and talk with your neighbors to see if they have had issues with termites in the past.