Friends, we are in the midst of a very exciting new chapter in our lives: we have found our “forever” home! Pictures and details will follow after we close and have those keys in our hands, but for now, we are in the midst of getting everything set up to take over ownership of the property. Can’t wait to show you more!

I think most everyone knows that when you buy a house, your purchase should be contingent upon an inspection to ensure that no serious problems are present with your roof, plumbing and electrical. But many people assume that an inspector also checks for Termite issues, and this is not the case! You need to have a separate termite inspection conducted by a licensed pest control professional exterminator. We have been under contract with Arrow Exterminators for several years now and have always been so impressed with the knowledge and skill of their staff, so we asked them to perform our upcoming termite inspection, as well.

If you are planning on purchasing a house in the future, please make a note that you need to get your home inspected for termites prior to closing. This is one important way to protect this big investment you are about to make. And it honestly doesn’t matter what material your home is made of in determining whether or not a termite inspection is needed. Termites only need an opening about 1/32 of an inch wide to get in, and while we all know they will go through wood, they will also go through brick, stucco, stone or concrete. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you are safe from termite problems just because your home is primarily made of a material other than wood! 

Once you have had your initial termite inspection, it’s time to ensure that you don’t have a problem down the road. Another really big mistake homeowners often make is assuming that their homeowner’s insurance will cover termite damages that might occur in the future. This is simply not the case, friends! Termites can wreak absolute havoc on the structural integrity of your home, and they can do it at lightning speed and cause you hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, all with zero help from your insurance company. The long and short of it is that termites can ruin your biggest investment.

So how do you make sure you aren’t ever in a horrible situation like this, with termite damage that is so extensive you can’t afford to repair it? You keep the termites from showing up in the first place by working with a reputable exterminator pest control company, such as Arrow Exterminators, and you stay on a contract with that company. Arrow utilizes the Sentricon® System with Always Active Technology which is a baiting system that will set up termite traps that are is extremely effective (I know from years of experience seeing them work!). Additionally, they will monitor those traps stations every year and give you a detailed report of their findings. They work really hard to make sure no termites get into your home,. So in a sense, having a termite contract is a bit like having insurance specific to this damaging pest. It gives me a great deal of peace of mind to know that termites aren’t coming anywhere near my single biggest purchase, and that if they do, I’m not on my own to deal with it.

So the big takeaways for those of you thinking about buying are to get the home inspected for termites before you sign on the dotted line at closing, and for those of you who already own a home, make sure you are on a termite contract to protect your home from these awful invaders. Your homeowner’s insurance will be of no help if you find damage down the road!