Be Insect Free When Selling Your Home

  by Carol Van Wagner - Bristow

There might be some kind of small, leggy creature that finds
its way into your home.  If home remedies like ionized boric acid don’t work, paying a professional exterminator will be money well spent.

Standard sales agreements require that a property be inspected before the closing and treated for termite infestation, if necessary.  It is a good idea to check for wood-boring insects such as termites or carpenter ants as soon as you sign a listing agreement, so that they don’t become an issue of contention in the sale.  Also, ask the home inspector to inform you if there are any signs of dry rot, mold or mildew that group in damp, dark areas, appearing as a brownish-black fungus growth on walls and  wood surfaces and alerting you to possible structural damage.

Some insects may not physically damage the house, but their presence may reduce its chances of selling for top dollar.  If a prospective buyer has to push back spider webs while touring the house or sees an ant trail, it could  seriously undermine their ability to fully appreciate your house.