Infestation

The number one threat to buyers of bargain homes is infestation.  Home infestations can range from ants and fleas to cockroaches and everything in between, but the worst type of home infestation is termites.  Termites cause billions of dollars in damage to homes each year.  These small, white, ant-like bugs with wings eat through wood primarily, but can also destroy paper, books, insulation and more and they can be found in houses everywhere.

Many homeowners don’t know that they have a termite infestation, as termites often stay within the walls and under the floorboards and never surface.  This doesn’t mean that the termites aren’t doing damage!  While a termite inspection or infestation report is usually a condition of sale, sneaky infestations can often go overlooked even to the trained eye!

Some signs to look for when purchasing a home are actual termites, earthen tubes along walls and beams (constructed for shelter as termites travel from their underground homes to the structure) and termite damaged wood.  Termite damaged wood is hollowed out along the grain and frequently has bits of dried mud on it.

If you find a termite infestation before you’ve bought the house seller should take care of the problem.  However, you need to make sure that the damage the termites caused won’t be difficult to repair.

If you buy a home with an overlooked termite problem you need to exterminate.  There are several do-it-yourself methods for termite extermination but these rarely work.  It is advisable to find a termite control company to do the dirty work for you.  You should take your time in selecting a company, as termite extermination is a difficult process and many companies that offer great “deals” will not do a thorough enough job and you may have to exterminate again down the road.

Once the termites are eliminated you can confidently move to put your house back on the market for a huge return!