Are you afraid of little bugs?
Many would-be buyers think that termites are too scary to cope with. For bug-phobes, any house that has been treated, or is on a maintenance program is ruled out. In my experience, that is an over-reaction. In Massachusetts, termites live in the soil and are pretty slow-moving; they are dormant when the ground is frozen. Most of the time, they can be found and stopped before they do serious damage.
Today, James Morrison tells you what he looks for when he does his general home inspections:
If you are serious about buying a particular home, I recommend that you begin by going to the Town Building Department and ask to see the folder for that address. It is public information to which you are entitled access. This will tell you what work has been done on the property that has been approved by the Municipality. You should also try to obtain a written disclosure on the condition of the property from the current owners. While these are not mandatory in Massachusetts, some homeowners will provide them to you. At the very least you should ask them if they have ever had the home inspected for wood boring insects, radon, or lead paint and if there has ever been water in the basement.
Termite activity itself is very difficult for anyone but an exterminator to find. However, if you see brown tubes that appear to be made from mud that are about the same width as a pencil, running up a foundation wall or on wood in the basement or anywhere near the ground, it’s very likely you’ve discovered termites eating the house! Piles of sawdust, or serious any activity can indicate a carpenter ant problem.
Look for ½ inch diameter holes patched with newer looking mortar in the cellar floor slab and exterior paved surfaces next to the house, which indicates that the house has been treated for termites. If you see them, you’ll want to ask the current owner of the property for more information in order to assist you in the decision to purchase the property, including: When it was treated and by whom, is the treatment warranteed and is that warrantee transferable, and where the termites damaged the house (if at all), and was the damage replaced?
Occasionally, I see long-untreated termite activity that has managed to make big holes in the wood of a house. Frequently, big areas of damage are on wood near the boiler, where the 'mites enjoy a longer feeding season. Another place is in garages, where the wood walls touch the soil, things are piled against the wall, and no one has looked at the wall in 15 years. In most cases, termite damage is limited to a small area.
Today we talk termites. What have you seen? Are termites a reason to run from a house?
