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RALEIGH NC HOME INSPECTION PRICES STARTING AT $199 FOR A  NORTH CAROLINA HOME INSPECTION BY A STATE CERTIFIED NC HOME INSPECTOR. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA / NC LICENSED ASHI, NACHI CERTIFIED, NORTH CAROLINA INSPECTORS,  HOME INSPECTION SERVICES FOR ALAMANCE, CHATHAM, JOHNSTON, LEE, ORANGE, WAKE. TOWNS AND SURROUNDING AREAS  CHAPEL HILL, HILLSBOROUGH, RALEIGH, NC, APEX, NC, DURHAM, NC, CARY, NC COUNTIES. GREATER TRIANGLE AREA AND SURROUNDING TOWNS: RALEIGH - DURHAM - CHAPEL HILL - CARY - HILLSBOROUGH - CARRBORO - APEX - HOLLY SPRINGS - FUQUAY-VARINA - GARNER - MORRISVILLE
TERMITE INSPECTION This article is simple straight foreword information about termites that will help the buyer with the purchase of the home. This author is not a termite inspector or an expert on termites, I am however the owner of two very successful home inspection companies that have dealt with over five thousand home and termite inspections. It is from this first hand experience and knowledge that I will share with the reader. The article is written in a question and answer form which hopefully will answer the entire buyers question about Termites. (Read more about termite inspection below.)

A CERTIFIED PLUS HOME INSPECTION INCLUDES:   PRICES - START AT $199 - The price is set according to the size of the house. Call for exact prices for your North Carolina real estate home inspection. REPORT - ON SITE SUMMARY REPORT - At the end of the home inspection, you will receive a summary report of the repairs. You are now ready to negotiate any repairs right after the inspection. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - Our home inspectors are professionals. We are one of the few companies that offer a money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with our home inspection, we will gladly refund your money.   APPLIANCES - All appliances that are purchased with the house will be tested at no extra charge. Appliances such as the dishwasher, stove, refrigerator and the washer and dryer.

WHAT IS A TERMITE? In simple terms, a termite is a wood eating insect that lives in the ground that loves to eat the wood of your house. That's the simple explanation; the more technical term is:

Termites are subterranean social insects that eat cellulose; the worker termites are often called little white ants. Termites have a strict social cast system that consists of worker termites, soldier, winged reproductive termites and the Queen and King termite.

HOW DO THEY GET INTO THE HOUSE? Worker termites can't get into the air for any length of time or they die from dehydration. So, to avoid dehydration and still have the ability to travel they build these little mud tunnels up the side of the foundation till they reach the wood Moist wood is their dinner table that why it's so important to avoid and eliminate any water intrusion or moisture in the home. Particularly the areas of the basement, crawl space and the front and back step areas Other really vulnerable areas are wooden decks garage, fences or any other wooden structure where the wood touched the ground.

ARE TERMITES REALLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM? Yes, termites can be a very serious problem if preventative measures are not taken to restrict termite infestation. The good news is, with modern day control methods and treatment, termite control and termite infestation can be dealt with very efficiently


If termites are discovered in the house that you're thinking of buying, I recommend the following:

1. Don't panic; find out how much termite damage is done before you give up on a good house. For most homes that have been well maintained, if termites are discovered it's usually in a small area and can be repaired like new for a few hundred dollars and the property treated with chemicals so they don't come back.
2. Do not rely on someone else's report that the property if free and clear of termites. The report may be very old and termite or other wood destroying insect's situation may have changed since the inspection was conducted.
3. Always hire your own Professional Wood Destroying Insect Inspector to conduct your inspection. The reason being, you get a professional inspection and you will know for sure if there is any termite problems before the purchase. To assure that the buyer receives a through termite inspection Certified Plus Home Inspection always hires a Professional termite inspector to conduct our Termite inspections at the same time the home inspection is being conducted.

HOW LONG DOES A CHEMICAL TREATMENT LAST? As per the WDI (Wood Destroying Insect) professionals, the present day chemicals last five to seven years? It all depends on the density of the termites, the environment, and the thoroughness of the application of the chemicals. By thoroughness of application means that if any areas are not chemically treated in the house perimeter, termites may find there way back into the house Modern day termiticides pose no significant hazard to humans, or pets as per the termiticides manufacturer and independent studies. However, for the home owner that is still uneasy about the chemical safety there is always the in ground child proof termite bait system.

ARE THERE ANY TELL TAIL SIGNS OF TERMITE INFESTATION? In all reality, the average home owner never sees a worker termite that is doing the damage. However there are some tell tail signs that you may have termites. Obvious piles of wood or plaster dust or obvious wood damage that may look like wood water rot to the average homeowner. Termites however are visible when the winged reproductive termites swarm. In the spring the winged reproductive termites swarm in the air to disperse and start a new colony and at that time they are visible. After swarming they go to ground drop their wings, mate and start the new colony. The dropped wings are another tells tail sign of termites. If visible swarming is notice or dropped wings are discovered in the house or close to the house, there is a good chance that a termite colony is near by and a professional termite inspection is recommended

IS THERE ANY OTHER WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS BESIDES TERMITE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT? Yes, there are a few other wood destroying insects that are of concern. The wood destroying Insects encounter most times are: termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles and carpenter bees. The number one menace is the termites with carpenter ants in second place. All wood destroying insects can be dealt with very efficiency. Since carpenter ants can also do some serious damage, we will spend a few minutes discussing carpenter ants and carpenter ant treatment.

WHAT IF CARPENTER ANTS ARE DISCOVERED? Carpenter ants are difficult insects to control and can cause extensive damage to wood sections in the house. Carpenter ants do not actually eat wood, they chew the wood and carry wood particles in their jaws to the nesting area. They do this to build or maintain the nesting areas The king and queen start a colony and in time, spread out by forming satellite colonies. A carpenter ant colony will produce winged swarmers similar to the termite style swarming. The swarm is active in May through July. As per termite experts in the business, carpenter ants many times are difficult to eliminate and more than one treatment may be required for complete extermination. It seems that when the ants encounter the pesticide the colony fragmentizes and heads for untreated areas. Do to the fragmentation type escape action from pesticide, the pesticide treatment has to be extended way beyond the nesting area. To sum up, if carpenter ants are discovered, hire a professional exterminator and be patient, more than one treatment may be necessary to eliminate carpenter ants.

TIPS ON WHAT THE HOME OWNER CAN DO TO AVOID TERMITE AND CARPENTER ANT INTRUSION

The following are some very good tips and suggestions that the home owner can do to reduce the risk of termite and carpenter ant intrusion:

• Sign up for a annual termite inspection with a licensed termite inspection company.
• Do not stack firewood near the house and only burn all the fire wood you bring into the house, don't let it stay in the house it could have termite infestation in the fire wood.
• Termites love damp wood, direct and control all rain water. Keep gutter clear and have the downspouts discharge the water at least four feet from the foundation.
• Don't store unused wood under the deck or porch, wood laying around is the termites dinner table.
• Wooden decks and wooden steps, don't have the wood touch the ground, the termite will sooner or later find the and start infestation.
• Treated wood - Treated wood today only retards the termites for about seven years. The chemicals used to treat the wood are much weaker today than years ago
• Rotted wood -   If you see what looks like wood rot around or in the house have it checked by a licensed termite inspector, it may be termites.

All About Home Inspections from A to Z - National Association of Certified Home Inspectors

Triangle area towns -Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Apex, Holly Springs, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, North Carolina, all home inspections will be conducted to the American Society of Home Inspectors standards (ASHI ). All inspections will be conducted by a licensed, certified, insured professional NC home inspectors - Raleigh, NC.

In North Carolina, all home inspections will be conducted to the American Society of Home Inspectors standards (ASHI ). All inspections will be conducted by licensed, certified, insured, professional NC home inspectors. Licensed North Carolina Home Inspectors serving: Alamance County, Chatham County, Johnston County, Lee County, Orange County, Wake County, towns and surrounding areas for Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, Raleigh, Carrboro, Holly Springs, Garner, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina.

Licensed North Carolina Home Inspector Serving: Licensed North Carolina Home Inspector Serving: Alamance County, Chatham County, Johnston County, Lee County, Orange County, Wake County. Towns and surrounding areas for Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, and Raleigh.