Get 2nd opinion on termite inspection – SFGate

Bill Burnett and Kevin Burnett

Q:I am selling a house and have gotten a termite inspection by a company recommended by the real estate agent. The recommendation was to tent the house and treat it with Premise 75. The cost for the subterranean termite treatment is $1,250 and for the drywood termites is $2,600. The drywood termites are only in a corner by the water heater and under the porch by the water heater. Is the tenting for both types of termites? Why two different prices?

In addition, there are various fungus and dry-rot repairs to the tune of $3,000 more. The termite company requires that they do the work or they will not give a completion notice. I could get a handyman to do it for much less. I want to get another estimate, but the real estate agent says we may be opening another can of worms, as the inspections are recorded.

It seems as if the termite company has us over a barrel and can charge whatever it wants since a competitive inspection is unlikely.

A: Your real estate agent is dead wrong. The termite company does not have you over a barrel. Get a competitive inspection and another bid. You'll be out another inspection fee, but that's all.

Standard practice these days is to get a structural and pest control inspection before listing your property so you know the likely cost of repairs. Our favorite way to deal with this is to negotiate a credit on the sale and let the buyer deal with the work. You get a closing and they get to control the work. Everyone wins.

When Kevin sold his Alameda house, the offer was contingent on a clear pest control report. Kevin was the listing agent. The buyer's agent had a pest control contractor she liked. The guy pulled up in an extra-long pickup he used to trailer his ski boat. Uh-oh!

At the end of the inspection he came up with about $5,000 worth of work, including $2,600 to tent the house and do some dry-rot repair. After doing a little investigation, Kevin found the dry-rot repair was minimal and partially unnecessary, and the fumigation could be subcontracted at a cost of about $800. Kevin did the rot repair himself for a few hundred bucks, had the home re-inspected by the reputable pest control operator he used, who cleared the work. He refused to do the fumigation. Ultimately, the deal closed and the buyers did the fumigation before they moved in.

It's likely that your house needs two types of treatment, hence the separate prices.

Premise 75 is a liquid termiticide injected into the ground along the foundation to create a chemical barrier against subterranean termite infestation. The chemical is dangerous and should only be handled by trained, licensed personnel. You can get a full description of the uses and dangers of this poison at bit.ly/hq4j4o.

Tenting or fumigation kills drywood termites and other wood-destroying pests like powderpost beetles. The process consists of placing tarps over the entire house and pumping in poison gas to kill every living thing in the house. The gas permeates everywhere, including pillows, mattresses, food and furniture. For this reason, we strongly recommend if fumigation is required, to have if done after you move out. This website will give you a good idea of what you're in for: bit.ly/eRVTyf.

Be aware that fumigation kills the bugs currently infesting the house, but it does not prevent them from returning.

In California, termite inspections call out two areas of repair. Section One repairs deal with areas where active infestation is apparent. Beetles, termites and dry rot fall into this category. Section Two work deals with conditions likely to lead to damage in the future. An example is dirt graded to within 6 inches of a foundation. Only do the Section One repairs.

Don't use a handyman to do the dry-rot repairs. If all the work is in plain sight, use a licensed, insured and bonded general contractor. These professionals are more likely to be able to work with the termite company and get the ultimate goal - a clearance. Carefully inspect the contract and try to get a fixed bid. Sometimes hidden damage will be uncovered, which costs more.

Read more:
Get 2nd opinion on termite inspection - SFGate