In the South, wood-destroying insects like termites can be major problems for homeowners. When entering into a real estate purchase agreement, many buyers opt to have a home inspected for wood-destroying insects. The result of this inspection is a document known as a “termite letter.”
What is the importance of the termite letter in Atlanta real estate transactions? According to Brian Lunsford of Atlanta termite treatment and inspection service Inspect-All Services, the termite letter (also called the “Official Georgia Wood Infestation Report”) was once required by most lenders in the Atlanta area. Today, however, a termite inspection and/or termite letter is primarily intended to provide a home buyer with valuable peace of mind.
Inspect-All, Lunsford says, makes termite inspections easy and affordable by combining termite inspection services with standard home inspections. All of the company’s inspectors are certified and trained at the Georgia Institute of Home Inspectors (GIHI) and are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and International Code Council (ICC). Each inspector is also registered with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and therefore authorized to conduct termite and pest inspections.
“Even if you don’t need an official termite letter,” Lunsford says, “at least you know you have a reputable company that’s been around since 1984 doing the home inspection, and then also the termite inspection as well.”
What’s Involved?
In a termite inspection, says Lunsford, an inspector is looking for evidence of any of five wood-destroying organisms – subterranean termites, powder post beetles, wood-boring beetles, dry wood termites, and wood-decaying fungus. Beyond simply looking for evidence of activity, the inspector must also identify any conditions in or around the home that may be conducive to future wood-destroying organism activity.
“For example, if a deck isn’t on concrete, it’s just resting on the ground and also touching the house,” Lunsford explains, “that would be considered a ‘conducive condition.’ It makes it more likely that termites can get into the house.”
The termite letter, completed at the end of the inspection, verifies that no evidence has been found of wood-destroying insects.
What If Termites Are Found?
If termite activity is found, Lunsford says, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the home purchase won’t go forward as planned. In many cases, it will simply mean that steps need to be taken to mitigate the problem before the buyer closes on the home.
“If we do find evidence of termites during the inspection process,” he explains, “it gives the buyer the opportunity to either step back a little bit and reconsider or ask the seller to take care of the termite treatment first.”
This is where Inspect-All Services can really help keep the process moving and the transaction on schedule. When Inspect-All’s inspectors identify a potential termite problem, they turn the case over to the company’s pest control division. Inspect-All’s pest control experts will then provide both the buyer and the seller with a price quote for termite treatment. Should the seller choose Inspect-All to provide the treatment service, the company can take the necessary steps right away to get the property ready for purchase.