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Today we are talking about termite damage, and I’m joined by Victor Iniguez, of Remodel Plus. Sometimes, a real estate transaction will be going along just fine and then the termite report gets done. Often, sellers are shocked by what they see on that pest report, and the expenses can get huge. I asked Victor to tell us if there is any way to save money when you have your home treated for termites, and he recommends checking with your general contractor before agreeing to whatever bid the termite company gives you right after the inspection.

Your general contractor might be able to save you money, and it’s always a good idea to get several bids and compare prices any time you are having work done on your house. This includes termite damage. You might find that the price quote you get from your general contractor will be about the same as what you get from the termite company, but you might actually get more work for less money when you hire your contractor to do the job. The way each company prices things is different. Termite companies and pest control companies often give you a price that’s based on the worst case scenario. Sometimes, there is only surface damage and simple work to be done. You don’t want to pay a premium price on basic termite removal. When a general contractor gives you a price, it’s based on the damage that is visible and the work that contractor knows will have to be done. Most contractors will also include a note on your estimate indicating that hidden damage is not included in that price. There can be unseen damage, so if the job ends up being more extensive, the quote will be revised.

A general contractor can complete the entire job, unlike a termite company which might simply remove the termites and then not be able to finish the work your home needs. A contractor will pay attention to priming the damaged area and give it a finished look. Most pest control companies only have the capacity to get the minimum or basic repairs done.  Your general contractor can take care of any dry rot that might be left behind and they will cut and replace wherever they need to. Your contractor will also pay attention to the primer and the paint to make sure everything looks similar to the existing colors. You don’t want your house to look patchy, especially if you’re getting ready to sell it or rent it out. It’s helpful to have the job completely finished by one contractor.

Thank you to Victor for joining us and helping us to remember that it’s always a good idea to get several bids when you have termite damage. Make sure one of those bids comes from your general contractor. If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact us at Estey Real Estate and Property Management.