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Insect infestations are a concern to all home buyers and sellers, which makes it something that certified home inspectors should know something about. And when it comes to house invaders, the termite is certainly the king of damage.
Each state has laws concerning the regulation of termite inspections.
On a home inspection report, you may be restricted only to the most general comments about termites; depending on where you live, you might have to call in a professional termite inspector. Before you get your real estate inspection career off the ground, check with local agencies to see what you can and can't say during a home inspection job regarding termites.
Despite that caveat, it's important that a licensed home inspector understands some of the habits of this pesky bug. There are thousands of termite species in the U.S., but we'll look at the characteristics of four termite species that can cause great problems in and around the home.
Subterranean Termites:
-Live underground in protected nests
-Resemble grains of rice
-Feed on wood
-Develop wings in the spring
-Dried insect wings are a sign of their presence
-Build tunnel systems
Drywood Termites:
-Create nests above ground
-Infest attic or high spot in home
-Don't require a water source
-Football-shaped pellets fall from nest
Dampwood Termites:
-Rarely found in the house
-Usually adjacent to house near moisture
-Do not construct tunnels
Formosan Termites:
-Mainly found in Texas and Louisiana
-Colony is usually larger than subterranean termite colonies
-Able to chew through metal and plastic to reach wood
There's nothing nice to say about termite infestation, but it's a reality that home inspectors will encounter time and time again. Professional home inspection training will certainly expose you to the general characteristics of termites and their ways, but it is each inspector's responsibility to know the applicable local laws regarding inspections and termites.
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