Should You Buy a Home with Termite Damage?

Before you purchase any home it is essential that you have an array of reports completed that will highlight any issues. This can help you to negotiate the right price to pay and even tell you when it’s better to walk away.

At the moment the price of the property is actually falling, meaning you can afford to be more selective. So, what do you do if you find your new home has termites, buy or run away?

The answer depends on the extent and your intentions of buying the home.

Assessing the Issue

A survey from a qualified professional will be able to tell you the extent of the issue. The greater the problem the more costly it will be to fix. Getting rid of the termites is relatively easy, the professionals can supply termite bait systems to accomplish this.

Knowing the extent of the issue is important as this will allow you to put a price on repairing it. There’s a big difference between having to replace a few floorboards and having to rip out half of the structure of the house!

Don’t forget the termites will continue to cause damage until they are eliminated. If you decide to go ahead the sooner the professionals start treatment the better!

Your Intentions

If you don’t have much in the way of cash reserves and were intending to purchase a house simply to live in, then you’re not going to want to take on a house with termites. However, if you’re looking for a project to renovate then one with termites could actually be the perfect answer.

It will allow you to drive the price down further and replacing the wood can simply be part of your intended overhaul plan.

It’s important to be honest regarding your intent and financial abilities, falling in love with the house is not a good enough reason to purchase it.

If you’re confident that your budget can cover fumigating the house, replacing any damage, and monitoring for fresh termites then you should be safe to continue your purchase. But, if you have any concerns or doubts then you’re better off walking away. Taking on termites is a serious commitment as they may be hidden and not discovered until the damage is extensive. At that point, you’ll discover your insurance doesn’t pay and the work you’ve done may need to be redone.

Speak To Professionals

It’s a good idea to speak to the professionals before committing to the house purchase. They will be able to give you an idea regarding how many termite incidents there are in the area and the likelihood of them returning.

Of course, they will help you take precautions to prevent the termites returning but it's impossible to guarantee you’ll never have a termite problem again. Speaking to a professional will help you to be prepared and decide if the house is for you.

However, before you run away remember that termites are often not discovered until the damage has been done. If you choose another house you may have a termite problem that you don’t know about. In this instance, it may be better to stick with what you know.