One of the things we'll discuss when you get ready to buy or sell a home in the Wichita, KS area is the wood-eating insect inspection.  While commonly referred to as the termite inspection, the pest control specialist will actually check for all sorts of insects that could eat the wood of your home, including carpenter ants, carpenter beetles, termites, carpenter bees, etc.  

The most commonly found buggy of importance in our area would be the termite, however, so that's what we'll focus on for today's discussion!  The reason the termite inspection is so important is illustrated in the photo shown.  They eat the wood of your home, including your framing, floors, window frames, etc. They can cause everything from asthetic damage to structural.  So best to catch them early and knock 'em out.

People are TERRIFIED of termites, yet few folks realize that in our region, they are prevalent!  One termite expert flat out told me that there are 2-3 subterranean termite mounds per ACRE in Kansas, so chances are somewhere in your neighborhood deep below the earth, you have these suckers around.   So it's no surprise that you'll find about 80% of homes in our area have had termite visitation at some point.  Thankfully, it's becoming more standard to treat the property's earth as it's built as a pre-emptive strike against the suckers.  But for older homes, they can still be a problem.  It's important to make sure everyone's aware of their responsibilities in regards to the little buggers.

When you purchase a home, you'll note in your contract (Kansas approved contract page 2, Paragraph 11) there's a paragraph stating that you will have a wood infestation inspection.  It also states that should the report say that treatment is necessary, the Seller shall choose someone to perform a treatment and pay them.   This paragraph is often misunderstood, so it's important ot note a few things:

1. By agreeing to the contract, the Seller is obligating themselves to pay for treatment per this paragraph if treatment is necessary.
2. The Seller gets to choose who treats it.
3. Note there is no "out" should the Buyer wish to get out of the contract simply due to finding termites at the property.  

Now it does go on to state that Buyer has option to inspect at their expense for damage from the infestation and make repairs request.   But please remember that just because they find bugs does not mean you can exit your contract.  And Sellers please note this does obligate you to pay for treatment.  Now if damage is found from the termites, repairs would have to be negotiated between Buyer and Seller or the contract can become void it an agreement cannot be reached.

If the Buyer is using a government based loan, and even some Conventional loans, a termite clearance will have to be delivered to the bank before the loan can go through, so the treatment will have to be done, the property cleared, and that form sent to the bank before closing.  

While the Buyer is responsible for termite inspection costs in the Contract (except VA), as a Seller you'd do well to have your home inspected prior to listing the home so that you have time to deal with anything that comes up from a bug standpoint and get the right service at a better price than if you have to do all this during the time crunch of a contract.   In our market area in Wichita, KS, most termite inspections run between $35 and $45.  

And there you have it - this is what it boils town to when the world of bugs crosses the world of real estate!  




PS - We are not lawyers so if you need a legal interpretation of the sales contract, please consult one!