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WHAT IS A TERMITE
INSPECTION?
Commonly referred to as a "termite inspection", the actual
name for this inspection is WOOD DESTROYING PESTS AND ORGANISMS INSPECTION
& REPORT (or WDO for short). The WDO inspector is licensed by the
California Department of Consumer Affairs; Structural Pest Control Board.
During the course of this inspection WDO inspectors look for the presence of
wood destroying insects (4 different types of termites, as well as carpenter
ants, wood boring beetles, carpenter bees, etc). Along with these pests, the
inspector also looks for fungus and dry-rot conditions which may be present.
Also noted on the report are any conditions present which may contribute to
future infestations (bugs) or infections (fungus) attacking the home. Specific
"recommendations" for correction are then listed below each "finding"
(problem), along with dollar amounts bid by the Termite Co. to perform those
corrections.
WHAT DOES "SECTION 1" & "SECTION 2"
MEAN?
It's pretty simple. In a nutshell;
SECTION 1 items are problems that exist NOW
in or on the home such as active wood destroying infestations or infections
(see above). This also includes any wood damage by same.
SECTION 2 items are conditions which may
possibly LEAD TO infestations or infections of the one in the future. All
"findings" are clearly listed as either Section 1 or Section 2 on the report.
IS THIS THE SAME THING AS A "HOME
INSPECTION"
No. A home inspection is ordered by the buyers (agent) to
inspect the home for plumbing, electrical, roofing, and general building code
violations and recommend code updating. A home inspector will also point out
suspicions of human health/safety concerns present in the home such as the
possible presence of mold, lead based paints, asbestos, etc.
A WDO pays attention to none of these things,
with the exceptions of the possibility of obvious plumbing, roofing, or shower
leaks. In these cases, conditions will be mentioned on the WDO report with
recommendations to refer to licensed contractor(s) who are proficient in those
specific areas, for inspection and corrections THEY deem necessary. The leaks
themselves are not the WDO inspector's concern. What IS of our concern is the
inevitable DAMAGE to adjacent structural wooden members that these leaks will
eventually cause.
WHY DO I NEED A PEST INSPECTION WHEN I SELL
MY HOME?
Most lending institutions (banks and mortgage companies)
require an inspection report prior to closing escrow. The reason is to make
sure that your home (which they intend to lend many thousands of $'s on) is in
good shape, and clear of problems such as what are described above. Also, and
just as importantly, the buyer(s) of your home want to be assured that they
won't be facing the possibility of large expenses after they close escrow with
you. As per California law, every buyer is entitled to be furnished with a WDO
report to view prior to the close of sale.
WHO PAYS FOR ALL OF THIS?
Unless
otherwise negotiated by you and your agent during the course of offers and
counter offers, the standard CAR (California Association of
Realtors®) form specifies who is responsible for the purchase of
the WDO inspection & report and for correcting all SECTION 1 items. Keep in
mind that even if you and your buyer agree that you (the seller) are not going
to be responsible for any Section 1 work, your buyer's lender may have
something else to say about this. The lender will likely require to have all
Section 1 work completed in advance along with a clearance issued by your
Termite Co., stating that your home is now "free and clear of any active
infestations or infections", before they will fund your buyer's loan. There are
some exceptions, so please talk with your Realtor®about this.
Conversely, it is usually the BUYER'S
responsibility to pay for a "Home Inspection". The costs involved for making
corrections that these home inspections deem necessary are usually up for
negotiation between buyer and seller. Please talk to your
Realtor® about this as well.
WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY "WDO"
PERFORMED?
Since most lenders will generally accept reports and
corrections performed only within the last 6 months, it has been customary to
wait to order this inspection until your home actually enters into escrow.
However, with the ongoing rise in most costs of corrections made to homes
lately, it has become more prevalent to order your report BEFORE you actually
enter into a sale. If you think about it, seeing your report early does make a
lot of sense. As a seller, wouldn't it be prudent to have an idea of what your
costs will be to perform any corrective measures PRIOR to you settling on a
negotiated price with a buyer? Once again, discuss this issue with your
Realtor®.
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