It’s not uncommon for termites to take up residence in an Alabama home. Therefore, it’s important to have a termite inspection conducted as part of the home purchase process. An inspection may reveal common signs of termite damage such as mud tunnels, wood damage or the presence of dead termites. In some cases, you may actually see termites swarming from one colony to another during the course of an inspection. Let’s take a look at what you can do if termites are found on a property that you want to purchase.
Ask the seller to eliminate the infestation and repair the damage
There is nothing wrong with asking the seller to hire a company to eliminate an existing termite colony. In fact, there is a chance that he or she already has a contract with an exterminator to offer regular treatments. If this is the case, it’s important to learn how you can take over this contract in the event that a sale takes place.
Not all contracts require a termite company to repair existing damage
It’s important to note that some termite exclusion companies will simply take steps to eliminate or control an infestation. Even if your contract does require a service provider to repair termite damage, the document may limit the types of repairs that will be made.
The difference between termites and flying ants
Flying ants are often mistaken for termites because of their similar size, shape and ability to go airborne. However, a flying ant has a smaller waist and a pair of small wings to accompany its primary set of wings.