How much does a termite inspection cost?

The cost to have a home inspected for termites varies per company and location. Termite inspection costs range from free to $150; most companies offer free inspections for homeowners, but charge $60-$150 for an inspection that is being done as part of a real estate closing. Be it a free inspection or one that costs, there is also an additional charge for a written report called a “Wood Destroying Insect Report”. A Wood Destroying Insect Report costs from $100-$150. Care should be taken when choosing a termite inspection company as there has been some scams in the past; a few disreputable companies offered a free inspection and then lied about the presence of termites just to milk customers of money. Better to pay more for a reputable and certified/licensed company with excellent references than pay less for a suspect company.

Average cost of termite inspection

The average cost of termite inspection for homeowners is free; however, some companies charge from $60-$150 for an inspection. Average termite inspection costs for home closings and mortgage approval is around $100. All termite inspection companies charge for their written report, which is mandatory for home closings and mortgage approval. The average cost of a Wood Destroying Insect Report is around $100, but can be as high as $150.

Termite Inspection for Home Purchase

Termites can cause serious damage to a home; termite damage often costs more to fix than flooding, tornadoes or hurricane damage does. Often, home insurance does not cover termite damage. When buying a home, termite inspection is typically mandatory for mortgage approval and part of the home closing agreement. The termite inspection will need to be done by a licensed/certified company. The cost of termite inspection for real estate ranges from $60-$150, with the average being around $100. A Wood Destroying Insect Report is always mandatory; it costs from $100-$150, with the average being $100. According to orkin, In most States, it is law that the home seller pays the inspection costs.

Termite Inspection Report

A termite inspection report is called a Wood Destroying Insect Report. It is also called a “Termite report” or a WDI Report. While a termite inspection is often free, the report never is. The average cost of a termite inspection report is $100, but it can cost up to $150. A Wood Destroying Insect Report not only reports on if termites are found in the house, it also reports on other wood destroying insects such as powder post beetles, carpenter bees and carpenter ants.

Free Termite Inspection

The large majority of pest control companies offer free termite inspections. Free inspections are offered because the company knows that if termites are found they will be able to make a substantial amount of money from the home owner eradicating them; termite control typically cost from $500-$1000, with the average being around $700. In addition, free termite inspections are not completely free as all companies charge for the written report; the average cost for the written report is $100. When booking a termite inspection it is highly recommended to only book with a licensed pest control company that has a good reputation and that is trustworthy. A fly by night pest control company may lie about an infestation just to dupe the homeowner into paying for something they do not need.

What is a Termite Inspection?

A termite inspection is when a trained and licensed individual comes to the home and visually inspects all the interior of the home. Some also inspect the exterior of the house. The average inspection time is 15-30 minutes in length, deepening on the size of home. Once the inspection is done, the inspector typically will return to their place of business, fill out the inspection report, which will then be emailed or mailed to the homeowner.

How to do a termite inspection

Termites are generally not an insect you will see crawling across the floor or up the wall. Termites typically live underground so are not often seen out in the open. To do a termite inspection, homeowners should start with the exterior of their home. Walk slowly around the home, carefully inspecting the foundation base, look for signs of termites such as mud tunnels. A mud tunnel is generally quite small, about 6-8 mm wide. Carefully inspect areas such as the chimney and porches. Anywhere where wood touches the house, be it a porch, fencing, a wood pile, wood doors, wood planters etc, needs to be given an extra careful inspection, as they are gateways into the home. Look for swarms of termites in the spring and sometimes fall; they come out during the day and look like flying ants.

The inside of the house should also be inspected. Again carefully inspect all the walls, look for signs of cracked paint, tiny holes, sunken walls and rippled surfaces. Knock on the walls and any suspect wood, listen for a dull hollow sound. Look for discarded termite wings; they look like fish scale and are usually in a pile. Also look for termite droppings; small piles of brown pellet shaped droppings.

How do I know if I have termites?

Termites can do a lot of damage to a home. Overall, termite damage costs Americans more money in home repairs than wind damage or flooding does. The damage termites do is slow and generally not noticeable at first, and by the time the homeowner notices it, it usually costs several thousand dollars to repair. Homeowners should watch carefully for the signs of termites so they can be caught and eradicated early, before they do substantial damage. Some of the signs described here to watch out for are: swarms of flying termites in the spring and fall; mud tunnels on the exterior walls of the house; rotten hollow wood; interior walls that are sunken, rippled, cracked or have tiny holes in it; piles of termite wings and droppings. Homeowners that suspect they have termites should call a licensed pest control company for an inspection.