If nominations are being taken for “State Bug,” punsters may vote for the “palmetto bug” (aka gigantic, revolting roaches) since this is the Palmetto State. But Joan Herlong of Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty would like to put forth the termite.
Why the termite? Herlong says: “Pest control alone does not faze termites. Foregoing pest control in The South is, well … gross, but opting out of termite coverage is downright reckless.”
Termite contracts vary, just like houses.
“I’ve represented countless sellers who assume everything is A-OK because they have a termite contract,” she says. “Then a buyer hires a CL-100 inspection (aka termite letter) that reveals the crawl space is wetter than a rain forest.”
Under most termite contracts, a pest control company treats a property for termites, and then it inspects for termites annually. If it finds an active infestation, the deal is usually that the company treats/eradicates the infestation at no extra charge to the homeowner.
But there should be more to it.
“If they only check for termites, that’s like a partial score,” Herlong says. “Unfortunately, some people are just paying for an annual cursory peek.
“If you’ve secured true termite protection the inspector also checks the moisture readings in your crawl space, and/or notifies you about standing water, water damage or wood rot that they find,” she says. “A professional inspector — and I know a few great ones — helps prevent a possible issue from becoming an expensive problem for the homeowner down the road.”
