Are you being eaten out of house & Home Simi Valley Termite Inspection?

Understanding how a termite inspection will impact the sale of your Simi Valley Home is an important issue.  Early action can save you frustration and headache.  If you are planning to list your home, now is the time to get and inspection.  Inspections are cheap ranging form $75.00 to $100.00 depending on the company.  If you have a pest control service for regular pest control call you company and ask if they have a discount for inspection and any work they recommend.  If you do not have a termite company here are a few local companies you can call.

Simi Valley Termite Inspectors

Simi Valley Termite Company  (805) 522-4334

Gold Coast Termite & Pest Control (805) 526-1150

Zwaag Termite Control (805) 526-7040

Once you are in escrow, a termite inspection will be ordered if you did not do this prior to accepting an offer on your home.  Generally, unless otherwise agreed, the Seller will pay for a termite inspection and any corrective work that is outlined in the inspection report.  The repair cost will vary dependent upon what is found and the size of structure.  Fumigation is based off the cubic volume of the structure and other repairs can include replacing any wood damaged by wood destroying pests and wood destroying organisms (dry rot).  The inspection is limited to the accessible areas of the structure, which include the attic and the crawl space under a raised foundation home.  The inspector will look for moisture damage, dry rot and evidence of wood destroying pest activity.  The inspector will also look for a tag on the structure (usually located in the garage) of previous termite inspections.  A corrective list will be itemized in the report along with a cost to repair any damage found.  Older homes that have not been inspected in a long time can not only have physical repair, but also require fumigation, heat treatments or foam treatments.

Make sure to that anything stored up against the walls of your garage is moved back so the inspector can see the perimeter of the garage on the inside.

Here are some of the tell-tale areas you can check for in your home to see if termites and dry rot are about to run up a large repair bill.

• Exterior paint on trim and siding.  If the paint is flaking and wearing away, exposed wood will be susceptible to wood destroying organisms such as dry rot.  Exposed wood needs to be scraped, sanded, primed and repainted.  Minor cracks in the wood should be filled with caulking or bondo before primer is applied.  Wood areas that are exposed to direct sunlight  for the longest hours of the day will show the biggest signs of paint failure.
• Any wood touching dirt or grass will be a candidate for dry rot and termites.  Keep these areas well sealed with paint and try to control the moisture this wood may be exposed to.
• Do not pile fire wood, yard trimmings, debris or lumber up against the side of your home. This will create a perfect highway for termites and other insects to attack your home.
• Look for piles of droppings near base-boards, window-sills, interior garage walls, exterior walls of the house.  Droppings are small, course, pepper-like pellets that can be reddish-brown in color.

Understanding Section 1 and Section Two repairs on your report.  Generally Section One covers any infestation of damage the inspector finds.  Repairs and treatment under this section are the responsibility of the seller.  Section Two are noted conditions that may lead to future infestation or damage.  These items are the responsibility of the buyer.