In California, pest inspectors approve their own work. On the surface, you might assume that it makes sense for a pest inspector to sign off on a job -- since the inspector knows what to look for and all, but when you dig a little deeper, it seems a bit insane. This is how it works: first, the pest inspector looks for termites, powder post beetles, dryrot and so forth in the home. If the pest inspector finds damage, he or she issues a report describing the work that needs to be done. Then the pest company typically subcontracts the structural work, applies its pesticides and when the work is finished, issues a completion report.
The completion report is good for three months and remains on record at the Pest Control Board for two years. The problem that arises is when I have a home re-inspected, often the second pest inspector finds more work, stuff that was missed. A buyer's only leverage is to insist that the first company go back out and fix the problems. Naturally, the first company is reluctant to do this, so then we have to threaten to report it to the Pest Control Board because it issued the completion certificate.
Don't you believe that every pest completion should be issued by an independent third party?
Home buyers for a South Land Park home asked for a pest re-inspection because the listing agent ordered a pest report and received a completion certificate before the home was sold. So, the completion report had expired by the time my buyers went into escrow. Sure enough, the pest company sent out a different inspector dude who discovered not only did the house still have subterranean termites underneath, but the new piers that were poured were sitting directly on the ground without any footings!
We signed loan documents last night because the buyers are leaving town for the holidays. The work has yet to be completed. Discovering this little fiasco has made the buyers feel uneasy, so the listing agent came to the closing to bring documentation assuring them the work would be finished and done to code. I feel comfortable that the work will be done correctly this time; although, this is my first transaction with this agent, I've worked with his daughter on a South Land Park townhome 4 or 5 years ago, and I worked with his son on a home in Land Park. His entire family is in real estate. Very nice, hard-working and ethical agents.
I bet as nice as those agents are, they will never hire that particular pest company again. Word gets out in Sacramento, and I know who the bad pest companies are. When I see a report issued by one of them, you can bet I'm calling for a re-inspection. The pest inspection business in California should be overhauled and more closely regulated, but I'm betting we'll see that happen when pigs fly.
The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from publisher Archer Ellison in January 2009.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
Comments (13)Subscribe to CommentsComment