Termites on a home inspection in a Park Slope Building
After a long search, we thought we found the perfect home, but some termites infestation in the window at the front of cellar was found by Accurate Building Inspectors. The sellers told us that the Park Slope coops are made out of bricks and limestones; that they doubt there are any termites in their building;…
After a long search, we thought we found the perfect home, but some termites infestation in the window at the front of cellar was found by Accurate Building Inspectors.
The sellers told us that the Park Slope coops are made out of bricks and limestones; that they doubt there are any termites in their building; and that if there are any that the board would promptly remedy to it. Also, that given that the Park Slope buildings are made out of bricks and limestones that they would not be vulnerable to termites. They offered to pay for a termites inspection, and we would choose the inspector.
We do not want to pay for a termites inspector, and neither incur any unecessary costs to the sellers if we are not going to buy from them, and wonder if we should get out of this deal now.
Are termites typically a problem in Park Slope buildings? Should we be concerned about this, and get out of this deal? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Okay so in our past we have bailed on properties with termites that were active. Yeah, there was the $235k limestone house in the S. Slope. And the adorable 3 story frame on Windsor Place for $450k years later. We were absolutely right that we didn’t want to deal with the termites. But then again, think of how wrong we were too! Luckily we finally did buy a place and dealt with the termites and stopped worrying about this kind of stuff. But we obviously paid a lot more than the above figures.
Yes, termites can inhabit non-wood structures. But termites are not that big of a deal if they are gotten rid of before they do serious damage. What you should do is make sure your contract inidcates that closing is contingent upon proof (provided by the seller or co-op) that there are no termites and that any termite damage is fixed. Typically in a house the seller will hire an exterminating service and can purchase a yearly contract with them, adding your name to the service contract so that you can renew on a yearly basis once you own the house.
As this is a co-op, however, the co-op, not the apartment seller, should hire the exterminator. They should have a contract with the extermination company if termites are found.
Regardless of who hires the exterminator (seller or co-op), proof of elimination should be a condition of your contract. Your lawyer can add this as a rider.
a termite inspection is very cheap, and typically
the buyer pays for it. $70 is typical.
Termites can and do infest all structures. There is wood in them there old buildings. Beems, floors etc.
It is the buyer’s responsibility to pay for all
home inspections and if you are smart you will get
an inspector who also provides termite inspection.
It is the seller’s responsibility to fix and
eradicate any infestation if any is found. If you
do find termites and damage, you should put all
the fixes etc. in writing prior to closing and set
a date for another inspection to confirm it has been done and problems have been fixed.
Buyer beware and protect yourself. You are making major investment, to spend a few hundred dollars on an inspection should be the least of your problems.
We had the same report from the home insepctor of our brick house. The termite company denied that there were any termites. In any case, the sellers have to pay for termite eradiacation if any are found.
If they offer to pay for the inspection, make sure you have that in writing. Our sellers said the same and never paid it ($70) and we got nasty legal letters from the termite company, because tradiationally it is the buyer who pays for the inspection.
Btw, we ended up not having any active termite infestation.
It is not uncommon to find some termites in any kind of structure. It is the extent of the damage that should determine if you move forward with the purchase. Termites can, indeed, infest limestone and brick structures because all the beams are wood. However, it takes years termite infestation to do any real structural damage. If the termites have only done limited damage, they can be eliminated fairly easily. Get the inspection and see what you are dealing with.