Termites Effect on Home Sales
In Florida one of the most important pests to be aware of to inspect for during your home purchase are termites. Termite damage in Florida accounts for almost one quarter of the termite damage in the United States and as part of your new home purchase, it’s important to have a wood destroying organism (WDO) inspection. Make sure that your home inspector is licensed and able to inspect your future home for WDOs.
There are several types of termites. Two of the most common in Florida are the subterranean termites which like dark, damp areas and must have water and food accessible in those areas and the drywood termites which swarm and fly from home to home. The subterranean termites build off-white tubes that they travel in and carry their food through which are usually located in crawlspaces or foundation walls. They are particularly fond of the areas around hoses. The most effective treatment for subterranean termites is to poison the soil so that they are killed when they enter the soil for water.
Homeowners should do whatever they can to discourage termites such as not leaving wood under crawl spaces or by the foundation or stacking wood near the home. That will definitely attract WDO and other creatures to the residence where they are not wanted and can be costly to kill and deter.
Another type of termite is the Formosan termite which is extremely aggressive as a colony can eat up to a pound of wood in a day and they have been known to eat through concrete. These colonies can have millions of termites and the colonies are much larger than the subterranean termites that were native to Florida. They’ve been found in many urban areas of Florida, the East coast of Florida, Central Florida and North West Florida.
New construction in Florida is now required to have termite protection as a preventive treatment when the slab is being poured to make sure that the house is treated prior to any issues arising. There are additional requirements in the Florida building code for new construction to keep termite infestations at bay or non-existent. Now several new requirements are in place for new construction such as borate-treated wood must be used for the sill plate that is placed on the concrete slab of the home; sprinkler heads have to be at least 12 inches from exterior walls; and downspouts have to discharge at least 12 inches from the exterior walls.
There are 20 termite species in Florida with the newest one being Nasutitermis costalis which looks like an ant, isn’t interested in chemical baits but the good news is that it isn’t as aggressive as the Formosan termite.
Pest control companies are required to post treatment stickers in homes that they treat for termites and let the homeowners know whether a portion of the home was treated or if the whole structure was treated. The pest control contracts for termites must indicate what kinds of termites are covered and if Formosan termites aren’t covered, the contract needs to clearly indicate that as well.
Termites are a pest but they can be managed and controlled. If you’d like more information regarding inspections, termites and purchasing or selling real estate in SW Florida, please give us a call.
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