Inspecting an Attic for Termites Last week, we inspected the outside of the house. This week, attics. Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I like inspecting attics. Sure, they’re dark, dirty, and full of hazards—but they’re never the same, and they’re a crucial part of a complete termite inspection. I compare inspecting an attic […]
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Inspecting a Home’s Exterior for Termites I typically begin a termite inspection on the exterior of the home. The exception is when it’s raining and I don’t want to track mud inside—in that case, I’ll start in the attic. Most of the time, though, the inspection begins with diagramming the house. Creating a diagram is
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Fences and Termites Fences are not considered part of a structure and are often excluded from termite inspections. Most termite reports include a note or disclosure stating this limitation. In escrow inspections, only gates that are physically attached to the home are included; perimeter fencing is not. While fences are frequently ignored, they can be
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It All Starts with Moisture I recently inspected a home in San Diego where the homeowner was convinced fumigation was necessary. She wanted to move quickly, so I rearranged my Monday schedule to make the first available fumigation date that Friday. The home had experienced a major plumbing failure that resulted in flooding. All of
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The Choice Is Yours Every time I show up for a termite inspection, I ask the homeowner how they feel about fumigation. I ask because it matters. If someone is completely against tenting, I need to be extra diligent about finding every area of termite activity and figuring out how to address less accessible spots
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A Tribute to Termite Fumigators There are few jobs I would want to do less than work for a fumigation company. In the world of termite control and inspections, a short list comes to mind: insulation installer, crawlspace vapor barrier installer, and ductwork installer. All three require spending far more time in attics or crawlspaces
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Why It’s in Your Best Interest to Repair Termite-Damaged Wood If you have termites, you have wood damage. You may be in the very early stages of an infestation, so the damage is minimal—but it still exists. Drywood termites live inside the wood and consume it from the inside out, feeding on both the soft
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The Cost of a Free Termite Inspection I don’t know a single company that charges for a standard termite inspection. The only inspections I charge for are escrow inspections—industry norm—but everything else is free. Still, very few homeowners want their home inspected, even when it costs nothing. Who wants to find out they have termites,
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Ants and Termites I was at a home in Carlsbad recently, and the customer was worried he might have experienced a termite swarm. Luckily, he had snapped a photo of one of the insects. The moment I saw the pinched waist, I knew it wasn’t a termite at all—it was an ant. Most people don’t
