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Published 3 August 2018
I couldn’t believe the panic in my friend’s voice. “I think I have termites!” she shouted into the phone. “What should I do?”
Being no stranger to that question during my 40-plus-year real estate career, I provided my standard reply: “Get an inspection!”
While the decade’s-old answer to my friend’s question may have been standard, what takes place before, during and after a termite inspection clearly is not. That’s why I also recommended that she do her due diligence before selecting a pest or termite control exterminator.
Shopping around
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture advises obtaining “at least two or three quotes” (google “NMSU termites 101”). With each quote, it is important to learn if the company is properly licensed, carries the required insurance, uses employees or sub-contractors to do the work, and what sort of chemicals they will apply. Determining the length of any guarantee is also important. It is easy to get locked into a 10- or 20-year warranty that requires that you pay for regular inspections whether you want them or not.
Once you’re satisfied that you’ve found the right company, it’s time to determine whether any infestation actually exists. To do this, the pest control operator will inspect both the interior and the exterior of the property. This is where my “not the same” theory comes into play. Depending on the type of infestation and where it is found, a number of remedies could exist.
I once sold a home to a buyer whose lender required a termite clearance showing the property to be of free of any evidence of active infestation. The termite company hired by the seller found active termites on a fence post near the perimeter of the home. The company offered to correct the problem for around $1,200, which the seller thought was a heck of a lot of money for what appeared to be a minor job.
Upon further questioning, the termite company disclosed that they were prepared to offer a remedy that would solve the problem for just under $300. Why the big difference in price? The higher-priced option included an additional treatment that would prevent termites in the future, along with a guarantee that the bugs would not return for three years.
Why didn’t the company disclose the $300 option at the same time the $1,200 choice was presented? The answer to that question lies with the individual termite inspector. Typically, the higher-priced option comes into play when termites are found in the structure of the home, and the entire structure has to be treated. Termite infestation outside the structure can often be spot-treated at a much lower cost.
NMDA Project Manager for Pesticide Applicator Licensing Marjorie Lewis concurs. According to Lewis, “Limited treatments are legal if the pesticide label has directions for it.”
Solution reached
After some negotiation, the buyer and seller agreed to separate the remedial work from the preventative work. As a result, the seller paid around $300 for the corrective work; and the buyer negotiated a price of around $700 for the company’s preventative work and guarantee to eradicate any termites that may reappear within three years of closing.
Even if you determine that you do indeed want the “full monty,” it still pays to shop price. The cost of the preventative treatment, which consists of injecting a liquid pesticide into the soil around a structure, is easy to determine. The NMDA requires that all pesticides be applied at a labeled rate. That rate, multiplied by the number of linear feet of perimeter to be treated, will determine the quantity of chemicals needed. Also, when comparing bids, homeowners should consider the chemicals a company is proposing to use.
“Some termiticides provide longer protection than others and thus cost more,” according to NMDA.
Labor is another matter. Treating an entire structure requires injecting a chemical barrier around a home’s foundation. Injecting pesticides into soil is easy enough, but drilling into concrete walks and driveways is a lot of work. How much does that cost? It depends on the number of linear feet around the structure, the quantity of concrete, and the hourly rate at which the workers are paid.
Take precautions
One of the best preventative measures homeowners can take is to make sure that all firewood, plant stakes, dead plant material, leaves and the like be kept at least five feet away from the perimeter of the structure. Wood and cellulose products are like a salad bar to termites.
With a little diligence and some time spent on homework, any consumer can feel confident that they’re receiving an appropriate treatment at a fair price. For more information, contact the NMDA at 575-646-2134.
See you at closing!
Gary Sandler is a full-time Realtor and the owner of Gary Sandler Inc., Realtors in Las Cruces. He can be reached at 575-642-2292 or Gary@GarySandler.com.
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About Author
Gary Sandler
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