What to do about Termites when selling your home in San Diego

We live in a desert climate here in San Diego County.  Let’s face it, termite are everywhere.  That being said, Northern California is a different story.  You’ll rarely see a fumigation take place there.

In San Diego County termite inspections are basically free.  It’s a no-brainer to schedule your pest inspection prior to going on the market.  We get out in front the pest control matter for a few reasons: aesthetics, negotiation, and your bottom line!   Once we have the report in hand we take the next steps.

Visible wood repair, called for by the inspector, should take place prior to putting your home on the market.  It’s an aesthetic, it matters.  When selling your home you’re doing your best to create visual appeal.  Termite damage and dry-rot is not good looking.  Therefore, it makes sense to remedy the damage prior to putting your home on the market.   The pest control company has the workforce necessary to make these repairs.   They even handle the painting part of the job.  You don’t need to call an outside contractor.

I do not recommend that a home be fumigated (if called for by the inspector) prior to putting your home on the market.  While it is common practice in San Diego to offer a buyer a wood destroying pest clearance, you might not have to do so.  Sometimes, in a seller’s market with multiple offers, buyers will not ask for clearance in an effort to make their offer more appealing to a home seller.  You could potentially be reducing your bottom line if you throw a tent on the house if you do so prior to listing your home!  You also can’t tell by looking at the house, whether the house has been fumigated or not.  It’s not like a paint job.  The buyer won’t notice one way or another.

I tell my clients to plan on doing fumigation or other recommend treatment before closing.  You’ll know the cost of the job ahead of time, and then you can handle it once you vacate, if you agreed to do it in your contract with the buyer.  This also avoids you having to bag food and campout someplace else for a few days.

It is also important to know that a wood destroying pest clearances are not required to sell your home, unless you have a contract with a buyer using a VA loan.  While we have many VA buyers in San Diego, the majority of homebuyers are not using VA loans.  A VA loan is a mortgage loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which helps Veterans purchase a home with no down payment.

Please reach out to me if you would like a referral to a great pest control company.  I’d love to answer any questions you have on the topic as well.