Termite Inspection Information
Termites are responsible for a tremendous amount of structural damage. The combined cost of treating termite infestations and repairing the damage they cause runs in the billions of dollars each year. Preventing termite infestations is the goal of a thorough termite inspection for home and business owners as well as for real estate transactions. Does this Spark an idea?
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Process
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Termites are categorized as a wood destroying organism (WDO). The process of addressing WDO infestations includes a termite inspection and any recommended treatments, including identification of the infestation, conducting an inspection and making a report of the findings, and recommending any corrective treatments and repairs necessary. A termite inspector is responsible for performing these duties to alert homeowners, home buyers and sellers, and real estate lenders to termite problems to protect the property, and to protect the parties involved from legal liabilities due to unreported treatment and repair costs.
Breeding Cycles
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Termite breeding normally takes place in the spring, although breeding is triggered as much by climate conditions as season. Warm, moist air is the best environment for reproductive termites (known as swarmers), which occurs in the spring and occasionally during the fall. Once an infestation has started, it is important to have a termite inspection done before termites have a chance to do significant damage. Infestations remain active year-round, so a termite inspection is useful at any time of the year.
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Conditions
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A termite inspection looks for conditions that promote termite infestations. Sources of continuous moisture such as plumbing, exterior water fixtures, areas of excessive humidity indoors and areas where rainwater collects are common points of termite activity. Cellulose material such as wood and paper serve as a food source for termites, so inspections also focus on areas where firewood or newspaper are stored.
Other Areas of Interest
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Termite inspections also look for obvious evidence of infestations. For example, reproductive termites of all species shed their wings after their mating flight, which are often found on window sills as they are drawn to daylight. Drywood termites leave residue and debris from tunneling into and digesting wood, appearing as "frass" (similar to sawdust) and tiny yellow fecal pellets. Subterranean termites create "mud tubes" found at points of entry from the exterior and throughout the structure when these termites begin to infest the wood.
Real Estate and Lending Institutions
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Most states require a termite inspection for real estate transactions and loan transactions involving property. The Department of Veteran Affairs in Phoenix, Arizona, for example, required termite inspections (as of 2006) as part of any loan guaranty process associated with the Phoenix Regional Loan Center. This included new home construction, loans on existing homes, and home appraisals. California is another of the many states that requires a termite inspection in real estate tranactions.
(Reference 3)
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