Should You Get a Termite Report Before Listing?

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Is it necessary for you to get a termite report before you list your home on the market? It’s a question that’s bandied about every day. Many people, we find, would prefer to put their home on the market and hope they’ll receive an offer without asking for any repairs.

What we’re seeing right now, though, is that buyers want their homes in good condition. This means they’re asking for repairs which could become offensive to the seller later on. Only you can know whether it’s worth it or not to get a termite report, but I would strongly suggest getting one before listing your home on the market for these reasons:

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A termite report helps you avoid unwanted costs and other surprises.

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1. You know where you stand during the negotiation. If you get a full price offer or something higher, the buyer will expect that home to be in very good condition. But once they do their inspection and find that there could be problems, you might be getting less than what you thought.
2. It helps you avoid surprises. You simply have more options if you do it in advance. You can disclose it to buyers and let them know it’s being sold as is, or you can just take care of it yourself and in your marketing let buyers know you’re providing a clear pest report. They’re not too expensive, and they allow you peace of mind.
3. You can be prepared with covered patios and wood decking. These features are notorious for giving us surprises we don’t want. They can look like they’re in good condition, but only a little pressing can reveal a problem. If that’s the case, it can get costly.

If you have any questions about termite reports, pest reports, or why they might be important, give us a call. We’d also like to talk about any real estate questions you have.