What To Expect From Your Upcoming Home Termite Inspection
California is home to beautiful weather, glorious beaches, breathtaking mountains, and plenty of pests, including termites. Termites love two things: moisture and food. Consequently, the real estate market isn’t just hot for people right now, but also for these wood-destroying insects. In fact, CalPro Inspections Group performs many home termite inspections in the fall, when termites are most active. If you have an upcoming home termite inspection, this article explains what to expect.
1. Conduct Initial Interview
A professional termite inspector will introduce themselves to you, and gather information about your concerns. Please let them know if the inspection supplements a general home inspection for a home sale, or if you’ve seen signs of an infestation. Some of those signs include things like:
- swarms of termite-resembling winged ants.
- shed wings in piles.
- mud tubes on exterior walls or in crawl spaces.
- tunneling in wood.
- wood waste or dust next to wood tunnels.
- termite excrement.
2. Inspect Moisture-Rich Areas
Termites thrive in moisture. Therefore, the inspector will look for any signs of moisture around the home that might be attractive to them. For instance, leaking faucets, pipes, and water lines can all act as beacons for termites. At the same time, leaking gutters and downspouts also present issues. This is especially true if there’s standing water right next to your home’s foundation. Finally, standing water may seem obvious, but even high humidity can create a welcoming environment.
3. Inspect Wood
During your upcoming home termite inspection, the pest control technician will observe obvious places, such as wood walls, crawl spaces, and attics. Additionally, they’ll keep an eye out for mulch and woodpiles, both of which contain wood and moisture. As a side note, try to make sure you pull back mulch from the home’s foundation. Further, store woodpiles away from the home’s exterior, too.
4. Deliver Inspection Report
After the inspection wraps, the technician will provide a report, including the areas inspected, a detailed list of any issues, and recommendations to correct them. If the inspector identifies a problem, the report will include mitigation steps to help you make an informed decision. If you’d like, a new home or pre-listing inspection that clears the house of any issues can be provided to the requestor. Additionally, many homeowners benefit from our termite protection plan.
Take the Next Step
CalPro Inspection Group serves the Greater Sacramento and the entire Bay Area. Our one-stop-shop meets all your home inspection needs without dealing with multiple providers. This means you can benefit from specialty inspections, pest control, and other services, in addition to termite and general home inspections. Request a quote, schedule an inspection online, or give us a call at (800) 474-3540 to see what we can do for you.