Don't Let Termites Eat Away the Sale Of Your Home

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

 

Don't Let Termites Eat Away the Sale Of Your Home

You're selling your home and it comes time to get that dreaded termite inspection. It's the Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection that homeowners fear can eat away at the price of a home or ruin the entire deal--but it doesn't have to.

There are a few signs that may indicate there might be an infestation. Some states are more likely to have heavy termite activity such as those in a "hot zone" such as California, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Hawaii. While these areas have the highest level of activity, termites can be found nearly anywhere and the varieties of the insects differ depending on the area and climate.

According to TermiteInstitute.com, "When conditions like cracks in the foundation or plumbing leaks are present; the possibility of a hidden wood-destroying infestation exists. Buyers should pay particular attention to these potentially hazardous conditions outlined in the WDO inspection report."

Many homeowners don't think about the possibility of having termites until they're getting ready to sell their home. Unfortu

nately, a history of termite issues can eat away at the sales price. Being prepared and understanding what to expect from an inspection is not only helpful but could help ensure a better price and smoother home sale.

TermiteInstitute.com has a lot of information that helps clarify the type of termites found in various locations. The site also helps inform and educate people about termite warning signs, treatment, and even the biology and life cycle of these pests. I found the site's top questions and answers about termites to be very interesting. Here's what you should know about termites.

If my neighbor's home is infested; will mine be attacked next? TermiteInstitute.com says not necessarily. However, the risk is, of course, high. Preventive treatment is recommended.

How are homes treated for termites? The methods vary depending on the severity and the professional company that you choose but here's a look at some modern treatments.

Termite bait systems can be set up, however, this requires termites to find the bait stations, eat the poisonous feed, and then transfer it to the colony. It can take up to a year to be fully effective.

The site says that liquid termite treatment is known as the new "undetectable" or "non-repellent" technology. "It works well with subterranean termites, which comprise about

90 percent of the infestations in American households." This method is done by a professional applying the undetectable liquid to the soil and around the home as well as critical points in the structure where termites are likely to invade.

Since termites can't detect the liquid material, they pass through the treated soil causing termite mortality. "However, before termites die, they can have an opportunity to return to the colony and transfer the material to others in the nest," according to TermiteInstitute.com

Will my homeowners' insurance pay for treatment? It's not likely. Although, in some areas of Louisiana some insurance companies have covered termite treatments for those structures that suffered hurricane damage.

While termites are annoying and can certainly eat away at your sale price, if you don't take care of the infestation and damage, they're not harmful to humans. In other words they feed on wood, not people. But they can severely damage a home so it's best to know right away whether you have an infestation and what your options are to resolve the problem. It could save you money and frustration when it comes time to close the sale on your house.

 

Related articles:

• Useful Tips for Getting Rid of Unwanted Pests Around Your Home - Get Rid of the Critters
• Termite Swarm Season Provides Homeowners with Chance to Catch Damaging Pests in the Act
• Find And Kill Termites With Termidor Termite Treatment
• Termite Control Information For Everyone

What to Buy, What to Skip at Summer Closeout Sales

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

What to Buy, What to Skip at Summer Closeout Sales

By Ely Portillo

July 21, 2011—(MCT)—With summer sales kicking into high gear, it can be tempting to throw caution to the wind and embark on some pre-Christmas splurging.

We’ve rolled past the Father’s Day and Fourth of July deals and into the back-to-school zone. But some experts are cautioning shoppers to hold back on some items and wait for what are typically steeper discounts times later in the year.

“August might be better for deeper discounts” on many items, says Lindsay Sakraida, features director of Dealnews.com. And electronics are typically cheaper near the end of the year. The site tracks about 2,000 retailers daily and alerts members who has the best sales for the day.

But depending on what you’re looking for and how badly you need it right now, Sakraida says this could be a good month for many purchases. Apparel, shoes, some sports equipment and some airfares are usually discounted well in July, she says.

Laptops and high-definition TVs, while often on sale now, are usually more heavily discounted during the holiday shopping season. And examine your back-to-school and Christmas-in-July sales closely, she says—sometimes, those labels are more marketing tactics than serious discounts.

By looking at past sales data, Dealnews.com has assembled a list of what are likely to be some of the best and worst products to buy this July.

Have a blast buying:
• Anything you can get on clearance. Retailers are getting rid of the last of their previous season’s inventories. Sakraida says many items, especially kids’ jeans and other apparel, are probably going to be on sale.

“If you need to buy clothes for your kids, July could be a good month for that,” Sakraida says.

The deals might not last for long, however. Ken Perkins, an analyst with Retail Metrics, said recently that many retailers are finishing their clearance sales and will likely pull back from deep discounting soon.

• Airfare: Some companies have already posted deep discounts, such as a $29 sale from JetBlue recently. Expect to see more such deals popping up, Sakraida says. To take full advantage of them, however, you might have to fly on less-popular days such as Tuesday or Wednesday.

• Sports equipment. Sakraida says July is typically a good month for golf equipment discounts. Look for clubs on sale and local deal packages, she said. Also, last July was noted as an especially good time to find baseball caps on sale at Kohl’s and Lids, so keep your eyes open if you’re searching for your favorite team’s cap.

Think twice before spending big on:
• Laptop computers. Although many models will be advertised as on sale, Sakraida says the biggest discounts typically come later in the year.

“You’re going to still get a better deal around Black Friday or leading up to Christmas,” she said. If you can wait a few more months, you’ll probably save with the electronics sales later in the year.

One exception is computers built around AMD’s A350 processor. Those have been steadily dropping in price, so if you can’t wait, search for deals on those computers.

“If you really need a laptop now, go for that,” Sakraida says.

• HDTVs. Much like laptops, those are likely to be much more heavily discounted closer to the end of the year. Real bargains probably won’t start until November.

One exception, Sakraida says, is the 55-inch model, which usually offers consumers the best value for mega-sets. This July, Dealnews.com has seen the sets bottom out at just over $1,000, so if you find one for that price, you’re probably getting a good deal.

Sales labeled “Black Friday,” “Christmas in July,” or “Back to school.”

The number of such sales increased last year, Sakraida says. But are the discounts really on par with Black Friday or Christmas?

“A lot of times, it is just sort of a name,” says Sakraida. “You should be wary of equating it with the really big, big discounts you see around Black Friday. They don’t necessarily translate.”

So even though the name might be catchy, Sakraida says, don’t expect to see the 50 percent to 75 percent off deals that often accompany frenzied shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

And though many retailers are starting back-to-school sales earlier than ever (according to media reports, Target, Wal-Mart, Staples and Office Depot are all starting their pre-school pushes), Sakraida is still cautioning consumers to wait to stock up on items such as backpacks, notebooks and binders.

“Generally, the items you want to buy for a kid going back to school, you can probably get better deals if you waited till August,” she says.