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Should you get a termite inspection for
your home?
If you own your own home, this is a question you really need to ask yourself.
The invasion of the damaging termites can
literally destroy a home, in a relatively short amount of time. So, how do you know if you need to have
a professional termite inspection?
First, let's identify what exactly a termite
inspection is.
A termite inspection is basically a visual
check of a home or property for the presence of termites. Generally it is performed by a licensed exterminator.
Often times, a termite inspection is a condition of the sales agreement when you buy a new home. If you
have purchased a new home in the last couple of years, you most likely had a termite inspection done on
your home.
You can generally get a termite inspection
for free from your local pest control company. You can find links above to some termite control companies
as well.
The inspector will usually give you a written
report of any findings he/she has after the inspection. Be prepared for a sales pitch at the end as well.
Since your inspection was free, pest control companies need a way to compensate for the inspector's time.
They will generally try to sell you a "worry-free" maintenance program to make sure you never
get termites, or to ensure they will get rid of termites if they found some doing the inspection.
The average termite inspection lasts around
30 minutes or so.
If termites are found at your home, be prepared
to pay some high fees. Termite control is not cheap, but considering the treatment could save you tens
of thousands of dollars in damage, it is definately a good idea to have the termite problem resolved as
soon as possible. Termite treatment prices will vary from $300 to
over $3,000 depending on the amount of infestation, size of home and if you require a regular treatment
program and/or termite bond.
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