One of the common questions is whether home inspectors check for termite damage and prepare a termite inspection report. So, let’s look at this in a little more detail.

So, do home inspectors also perform termite inspections? No. While most home inspectors are qualified to inspect and identify termite activity, the two inspections are distinctly different and serve different purposes. Also, the licensing for home and termite inspectors differs in every state. Termite inspectors are issued a specific license due to controlled chemicals, which allows them to treat the home if termites are present.

To clarify the two inspections’ differences, we must identify what each inspector does and the terminology used.

Home Inspection – a home inspector examines a home’s structure, systems, and components for defects. This includes construction, electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling systems, roof, interior, and exterior elements. The home inspector will inspect nearly every part of a home and is much more detailed than a WDO inspection report.

Termite Inspection – a termite inspection is a slang term for a Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection (also referred to as a CL-100 report in some areas). Termite inspectors look at wood-destroying organisms in the home, including termites and fungi. Termite inspectors will inspect from the ground to the first floor. If accessible, termite inspectors will enter the attics to examine the roof structure.

Some home inspectors possess both licenses, but most do not. National organizations like the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI or NACHI for short) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) have training courses on wood-destroying organisms that teach home inspectors how to identify wood-destroying organisms like termites, carpenter ants, borer bees, and fungi.

However, these organizations’ training does not allow a home inspector to produce a Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection report. The license to make these reports is generally reserved for licensed pest control companies.

A termite inspection will typically last 45 minutes to an hour. A licensed termite professional will inspect and probe accessible wood framing areas of the home during a termite inspection, such as inside crawl spaces, basements, and attics, for evidence of termite damage.

Evidence of termite damage includes buckling floors, dry rot in wood floor joists, and wood rot found in door and window frames where water damage exists. Since termites are attracted by moisture, termite infestations can be found where mold or mildew areas exist.

Does a Home Inspector Check for Termites in a Home Inspection?

What Happens if a Home Inspector Finds Termites in a Home?

Termites can cause thousands of dollars in damage to a house depending on the termite colony’s age and the location of the termite damage. The damage caused by termites is often never seen until it’s too late. You can typically find termite damage in the wood floor structures inside crawl spaces or along the interior of a concrete slab foundation’s exterior walls.

Crawl spaces are notorious for moisture problems due to numerous conditions like poor control of stormwater runoff, condensation from ductwork, and low airflow caused by inadequate ventilation. Moisture creates an ideal environment for termite and wood, destroying organisms.

If a home inspector identifies termite or other wood-destroying organism activity, it will be referred to as a licensed pest control contractor for treatment. Depending on the structural damage present, a referral will also be made to a licensed building contractor for repair. Severe cases may require referral to a licensed structural engineer.

For example, if damage is observed to wood framing components such as engineered trusses, a referral to a pest control contractor, a building contractor, and a structural engineer would be warranted because all three contractors would need to be consulted on the repair.

How Much Does a Termite Inspection Cost When Buying a Home?

When buying a home, the typical WDO Inspection costs about $75 for a slab foundation and $150 for a crawl space or basement foundation. This inspection is usually a requirement by the mortgage lender.

If you own your home, you can hire a licensed pest control company to inspect a wood-destroying organism for a fee. The inspection fee is often waived for the pest control company performing the necessary treatment if treatment is needed.

How Often Should I Have a Termite Inspection Performed?

If you own your own home, you should have it inspected by a licensed termite professional annually. If you know the signs of termite activity, you can do this yourself (at least initially). If you see any of these signs, you should immediately contact a pest control company for a thorough inspection.

Some of the signs of termite activity you may see include:

Mud tubes along foundation walls. Mud tubes act as a highway for termites to travel throughout your home.
Discarded wings. Termites will drop their wings once a new colony is established.
Termite waste. Termite waste looks like sawdust or coffee grounds. Typically found around door frames, window frames, and baseboards.
Sagging in floor or ceiling structure. A sagging floor or ceiling structure can indicate that the wood is no longer structurally sound due to termites feeding the wood members.
Water damage. Termites may be present if your home has water damage, particularly on the ground floor.

If your home has an active termite bond, a licensed pest control specialist will inspect your home at least once a year as part of the termite bond.

How Much Does a Termite Treatment Cost?

A lot of questions go into determining the cost of termite treatment. Some of the factors include:

Where is the termite infestation located? Infestations inside wall cavities or ceilings cost more to treat because of the amount of work needed to access the infestation.
How long will it take to treat the house? Some infestations are labor-intensive and take longer to treat due to the colony’s size.
What’s the extent of the damage done? Sometimes, the scope of the damage is impossible to determine without exploration. Contractors must remove the floor, wall, or ceiling coverings until no further damage is found. In some cases, infrared scanning can get a general idea of the amount of damage, but ultimately, physically removing the building coverings is the only accurate measure.
What type of foundation does the house have? For example, crawl spaces are tight and difficult to work in. Sometimes, it’s only possible to repair crawl space damage from above by removing floor coverings and subflooring. Concrete slab foundations must be drilled for treatment, and the damage is usually concealed inside the exterior walls.
What’s the size of your home being treated? Larger homes will take longer to treat for both current activity and preventative treatment.

On average, a whole-house termite treatment for a 2000 square foot house will cost about $1750.00. Spot treatments focus on areas where termites have been seen. The average cost for the spot treatment is $350. This may or may not be the best option because the whole house is not treated.

Bait Station Treatments are a popular preventative treatment method. This method includes placing round cylinders in the ground around the house’s perimeter. The cylinders are baited.

Termites feed on the bait and carry it back to the colony, effectively killing the termites. Initial installation costs about $1,500, with an annual maintenance contract starting at $350.