Insect infestations are a concern to all home buyers and sellers, which makes it something that certified home inspectors should know something about. And when it comes to house invaders, the termite is certainly the king of damage.

 

Each state has its own laws concerning the regulation of termite inspections. On a home inspection report, you may be restricted only to the most general comments about termites; depending on where you live, you might have to call in a professional termite inspector. Before you get your real estate inspection career off the ground, check with local agencies to see what you can and can’t say during a home inspection job regarding termites.

 

Despite that caveat, it’s important that a home inspector understands some of the habits of this pesky bug. There are thousands of termite species in the U.S., but we’ll look at the characteristics of four termite species that can cause great problems in and around the home.

 

There’s nothing nice to say about termite infestation, but it’s a reality that home inspectors will encounter time and time again. Professional home inspection training will certainly expose you to the general characteristics of termites and their ways, but it is each inspector’s responsibility to know the applicable local laws regarding inspections and termites.