Termite inspector Albuquerque, Rio Rancho,

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Inspections

Perry's Termite Service

(505) 503-8339

Real estate termite inspection procedures and reporting requirements can vary from state to
state. Some states may allow for inspections of wood-destroying insects only and other states may
require that inspections be performed for all wood-destroying organisms (which include the wood rots).
In the real estate community, the termite inspection is often referred to as a "pest inspection" which can
give the impression that it includes all pests (such as roaches, ants, spiders, mice, birds etc.) when in
fact it does not. There are situations where a termite inspector may note activity of a general pest;
especially if that particular pest has the potential to affect human health.

Real estate termite inspections can take as little as 10 minutes, or as long as 3 hours to perform
(on an average 1500 square foot home) depending upon what the inspector is hired to look for and
accessibility of the home. A vacant home is easier to inspect and the inspection is likely to be more
thorough.

Real estate termite inspections should include inspecting all accessible exterior portions of the
structure. Exterior sections of the home that cannot be reached with a standard 6 foot ladder are not
normally inspected. Exterior inspections include window/door trim, headers/lintels, corbels, fascias,
eaves, soffits, rafter tails and patio/carport supporting. Termite inspectors are also looking for
conditions that are conducive to an infestation. Examples of conditions that are conducive to an
infestation are; wood-to-soil contacts (beneath or up against a home), excessive cellulose debris
(beneath or next to the home), excessive moisture conditions (such as plumbing leaks), stucco or siding
that terminates at or below exterior grade level, faulty grading conditions (sloping towards the home) or
exterior grading/slab levels that are higher than interior slab levels (or mud sills) and insufficient
clearance in a crawlspace area. Some homes may not have visible evidence of termites, borers or wood
rots but have several conditions that are conducive to an infestation (or wood rot decay) and these
conditions should be noted. A complete interior inspection would also include viewing all walls, window
ledges, closets, stairwell closets, inside cabinet drawers (if practical), bathrooms, kitchens, all walls of
garage and accessible portions of the attic (if the attic has secure decking covering ceiling joists). If an
attic does not have decking, most termite inspectors will not inspect the attic (for safety and liability
reasons). A termite inspection is best performed when the home is vacant, however, due to real estate
contract negotiating factors and time constraints, this is not always possible.

Real estate termite inspections may or may not include a limited inspection of below-slab
Sonoducts. In our pest control industry, it is not clear whether below-slab sonoducts are part of the
structure. Second, the system is mostly inaccessible (other than if viewed by a special duct camera;
which termite inspectors do not carry). Some termite inspectors may try and remove the floor register
covers and inspect the immediate section (of sonoduct) at the register boot itself and other termite
inspectors may not attempt it at all. In either case, termite evidence in sonoducts (if discovered) is an
as-is condition because it is illegal to apply pesticides into an air system. The structure itself can be
treated and protected - by way of an exterior perimeter application - but there's no guarantee that the
application will have an effect on termite evidence in sonoducts. If you are concerned about the
possibility that the home may have a sonoduct lining, we recommend contacting a licensed HVAC
professional for evaluation.

INSPECTOR MISSED TERMITES?: Some of the most common "inspection misses" are the infestations
that are discovered in locations that were hidden from the inspector. Examples are: areas behind a
sellers' furnishings, behind headboards, dressers, entertainment centers, pictures or appliances. This
is because most termite inspections are performed when the homes are occupied. There are also areas
of the home where infestations can exist and will not be found, whether the home is vacant or occupied,
and they are areas beneath carpeting (or any other type of floor covering), behind built-in cabinets,
inside inaccessible stairwells, behind wall tile, interiors of hollow walls, behind wallpaper/wall paneling,
behind baseboards/window trim/door trim, inside enclosed bay windows & behind masonry. These
"hidden" infestations are often discovered when the buyer performs remodeling. Hidden infestations are
often assumed to be "termite misses" when in fact they are simply an unfortunate "hidden" occurrence
and not usually covered by a termite company's treatment/guarantee policy.

A final comment on termite escrow report findings. There are four words commonly used in the
home buying process (pertaining to termite inspection reporting) that (in our opinion) should not be
used; CLEAN, CLEAR, PASS & FAIL. These four words can (and have) give wrong impressions to
home buyers and sellers. A seller that is told that his/her home has FAILED the termite inspection, is
often left feeling dejected, when in fact (and more often than not) the findings can be easily corrected.
And a buyer is more apt to be outraged if, after closing on a home, they discover termites (for instance,
during a remodel or when replacing carpet) and remembers being told that his/her home was CLEAN or
CLEAR, and that the home had PASSED the termite inspection. The fact is, nobody knows if the home
is "clean" or "clear" because nobody has the ability to see inside walls.

Examples of conditions
conducive to infestation-

-Wood to soil contacts
(supporting posts etc.)
-Excessive moisture areas
(leaky pipes, roof leaks)
-Stucco at or below grade
-Faulty grade conditions
(grade slopes towards home)
-Improper ventilation to a
crawlspace or sub-area
-Excessive wood debris
(crawlspace area)
-Inaccessible sub-areas
(lack of clearance or access)

Termite reports for escrow- $75.00 (Albuquerque)*
Termite reports for escrow- $90.00 (Placitas area)*
Termite escrow reports are guaranteed for 1 year
*homes under 2500 sq. ft.-prices subject to change without notice

Service to: Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Belen, Edgewood, Sandia Park, Tijeras, Paako, and points in-between.