Whether you are buying, selling or settled in a New South Wales home for life, you may need to consider a pest inspection. One of the major concerns for homeowners and those searching the property market is the prospect of pests such as termites. A pest inspection is a specific type of inspection that involves the detection of existing infestations.
A pre-purchase building inspection typically doesn’t include pest detection. While a building inspector may identify the tell-tale signs of pests, it does not mean there is still an infestation. You will receive recommendations as part of a pre-purchase building inspection on whether or not you should consider a pest inspection.
Why is a Pest Inspection Important when Buying a Home?
When you are buying a home, you want to know that the property is structurally sound. While not all pests cause damage to the home, they can spread diseases and cause irritation and harm to individuals. However, certain pests – such as termites – are highly destructive. If your dream home is suffering a termite infestation, every supporting structure is potentially compromised.
Without a pest inspection, there is often no way of telling whether there are issues with a property. In the early stages of a termite infestation, there are few outward signs of a problem. Termites feed on structures such as wood from inside out, which means it could be too late to back out by the time you begin to see the damage. Having a pest inspection conducted prior to signing on the dotted line will arm you with important information which you can use in a number of ways.
If a property is infested, you have the option of backing out. Alternatively, you can compel the current owners to deal with the problem before you agree to the sale. Some purchasers are happy to go ahead with a sale, despite the confirmed presence of pests – provided the seller agrees to lower the asking price for the property. Most importantly, you can seek advice on your next move based on the recommendations in the report.
Why is a Pest Inspection Important when Selling a Home?
So you have decided to sell your home. What next? You should get a building inspection carried out to avoid any nasty surprises when potential buyers start making contact. During a building inspection, the inspector may find visible signs of pests. However, this is not always guaranteed in the early stages of an infestation. In either case, a pest inspection could save you a lot of heartache.
The last thing you need is a buyer pulling out in the middle of a sale because they have ordered their own pest inspection which has detected a serious problem with your property. Such revelations may see you paying the mortgage on two properties. That is before you consider the cost of having the original property treated and any necessary repairs carried out.
Arranging a pest inspection before the property goes on the market will allow you to address the problem effectively. You won’t have to deal with buyers pulling out, delaying the sale, or putting you in a position where the only solution is significantly reducing the asking price for the property. Pest inspections in New South Wales are practically necessary in all cases, given the ever present threat of termites.
If you have a pest inspection carried out before you decide to sell, you hold all the cards. You can seek advice and services from a pest control professional to remedy the situation before it becomes a serious issue. To learn more about inspection options from Houspect in New South Wales, call today for a building and pest inspection in Sydney and around the New South Wales area.