Buying a Home with Termite Damage in Florida

Everyone can agree that buying a home is likely the biggest investment you’ll make in your lifetime, which is why it’s understandable to be nervous about pursuing a home with a history of termites. Unless there is an active infestation, it is generally considered to be safe and completely normal to buy a home with termite damage.

Buying a Home With Termite Damage

To ease your worries about investing in a home that has had termites, it’s best to stick to the following guidelines during the home buying process:

1. Get a WDI report that will uncover any evidence of past, present, or possible future infestations.
2. If damage is found, you may be able to negotiate costs with the seller to cover treatment and repair expenses.
3. Ask the seller for any infestation history the home may have just in case the WDI report missed something.
4. If a home has significant structural damage or active termites, it’s up to the buyer to decide whether or not they want to still purchase the home.
5. So long as any past infestation has been properly taken care of, you should not let a history of termites stop you from buying your dream home.

Selling a Home With a History of Termites

If you’re looking to sell your house, termite damage can unfortunately reduce the value of your home. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world, and it certainly doesn’t mean you won’t be able to sell your home whatsoever. Best case scenario, you had a past infestation that was treated with minimal damage. Worst case, you still have termites active in your home. No matter the situation, it is best to be upfront about any termite activity or damage your home has when trying to sell, and it’s important to be prepared to pay for inspections, treatment, and repairs.

Living in a Home That Has Old Termite Damage

It’s important to realize that past termite history and treatment does not make it more or less likely that you will eventually get another termite infestation. The best way to avoid having to deal with termites is to implement regular inspections, treatments, and prevention methods into your home maintenance routine. Your best chance at preventing termites is by staying proactive about looking for signs of them as well as getting regular preventative treatments.