Termite Inspection Certification

Most termite inspectors must be certified

In many cases, particularly when selling a home or seeking a mortgage, a homeowner will have their property certified to be free of termites. Certificates are generally issued by professional inspectors.

Features

To receive a certificate attesting that a home is free of termites, you are generally required to hire an inspector, who will examine the property. The examine will usually take several hours. If the inspector finds no evidence of termites, he will usually attest to this in the form of a signed statement.

Function

You may seek to have your home certified as termite-free so as to guarantee to another party that the home is worth a certain value. Because the presence of termites, which eat through wood, can greatly damage the value of a home, potential buyers or home loan lenders will seek assurances that the home is free of an infestation.

Warnings

Although buyers are seldom required to perform a termite inspection prior to the selling of a property, many mortgage lenders will require one prior to issuing a loan, making them a virtual requirement. Many areas also have laws against homeowners failing to disclose the presence of termites to buyers.

References

• G. Warren Inc: Termites
• California Structural Pest Control Board: Structural Pest Control Certification Q&A
• Austin Termite Inspection Services: Homepage
• Termites: Certified Home & Termite Inspection

Resources

• Mississippi Department of Transportation: Example of a Termite Certificate