REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS


Real Estate Inspections

Real Estate Inspections for Wood Destroying Insects

Pests, especially wood destroying organisms like termites, cause billions of dollars in damage every year, and the damage is generally not covered by your homeowners’ insurance. The best way to prevent an infestation in your home is to have a pest home inspection. The professionals at IPM Pest and Termite have been performing pest inspections for 20 years, and we would love to help you prevent or treat a pest infestation.

Termites can travel more than 100 yards from their colony. This means that if a neighbor has termites, it’s probable you have them, too. Subterranean termites live underground in tunnels, and even a small colony can eat up to five grams of wood per day. Drywood termites take up residence in whatever structure they are eating and often go undetected until tunnels or cracks show in walls. Breathing in termite excrement can also worsen asthma symptoms.

Why Hire a Professional?

Many sites give tips on how to perform pest inspections, but that is not advisable. Because the warning signs can vary significantly, a DIY inspection could result in a termite problem worsening. Professional pest inspectors are licensed and trained to look for things the average homeowner is not. For example, a professional can tell the difference between mounds of dirt created by earthworms in the soil and piles of chewed wood scraps left behind by termites.

IPM Pest and Termite, pest home inspection, termite home inspection, Lexington, Kentucky (KY)

How to Prepare and What to Expect

The inspector will need access to key areas such as under your sink, garage, attic, and crawl space if applicable. The average pest home inspection takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. The key areas mentioned will be inspected as well as the base of your home to search for any cracks or gaps where termites can enter. Your inspector will provide you with his or her findings and suggestions for extermination, if necessary.

What to Look For

If you notice any of the following in or around your home, it’s time to call IPM Pest and Termite:

  1. Sagging ceilings or floors.
  2. Bubbles under the paint- termite damage allows moisture to enter between walls and paint, causing the telltale bubbles.
  3. Any appearance of other water damage in other areas of your home
  4. A musty smell, similar to that of mold or mildew.
  5. Piles of insect carcasses or wings - when warm weather brings subterranean termites to the surface, they often discard their wings before finding a new place to create a colony.
  6. Finding frass - Frass, aka termite droppings, is seen by baseboards, windowsills, and doorframes. It is tiny and oval-shaped. 
  7. Hollow wood - If you knock on a solid wall and it sounds hollow, you likely have a wood-destroying organism problem.

Termite Prevention

If your pest home inspection by IPM Pest and Termite determines your home does not have a pest infestation, there are steps you can take to prevent one in the future.

  • Inspect outdoor wood structures like swing sets, decks, and sheds. Wood-destroying organisms will leave pin-like holes. Be sure to check wood fences, as well. Termites will eat their way along the wall until they reach your house.
  • Check for any cracks or gaps in expansion joints or brickwork. Even the smallest gap is large enough for a pest to enter. 
  • Perform regular yard maintenance to keep bushes and trees from touching your home. Remove any fallen or dead wood as soon as possible as these are invitations for termites. If you find the deadwood has a current infestation, do not remove it and call IPM Pest and Termite. Removing the food source will not eradicate the termites; it will send them searching for a new food source such as your home. 
  • Firewood should be kept a minimum of 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground to make it less inviting for pests. 
  • Have your home inspected regularly. Every three years is the usual recommendation.

Contact Us

Whether you have noticed evidence of termites or other pests or want to prevent a problem from occurring, IPM Pest and Termite is here to help. We pride ourselves on quality service and community involvement. We are a QualityPro credentialed pest management company and are always working to become more knowledgeable and efficient at what we do. Give us a call at (859) 340-1403 or request a quote on our website. We are located in Lexington, KY, and are pleased to serve the surrounding area of Nicholasville, Versailles, Georgetown, Richmond, and Winchester. Our services are also available in the following neighborhoods: Pinnacle, Waterford, Cumberland Hills, Copperfield, Palomar, Masterson Station, Equestrian Woods, and Firebrook.

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