The Cost of Termite Damage

Termite Damage: What Are the Costs and Risks?

It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare: the discovery of severe termite damage.

There are a number of warning signs that can indicate the presence of termites in and around your home. The presence of dropped termite wings, wood damage around the walls and floor of your home, hollowed out wood, blisters in wooden flooring, and “mud tubes” (the tubes used by subterranean termites to gain access to your home) all point to a potential termite infestation.

While we have our fair share of bothersome pests here in South Carolina, few are as serious as termites. That’s because termites can cause extensive and costly damage to your home. Here are just a few worrying statistics:

• U.S. residents spend more than $1 billion per year on Formosan termite control alone
• Homeowners in the U.S. spend roughly $5 billion per year on combined termite control and termite damage repair costs
• Altogether, termites cause damage to as many as 600,000 homes each year in the United States

Types of Termite Damage

Termites can cause a number of different types of damage to your home, including:

• Mud tubes, which are sometimes found on home foundations
• Holes and tunnels in wooden structural elements
• Destabilization of walls and ceilings

This damage can quickly add up, and can be costly to deal with.

Average Cost of Termite Damage

The cost of dealing with termite damage varies depending on the severity of the infestation. However, the average homeowner in the U.S. suffering from termite damage spends approximately $3,000 repairing it.

Certain types of termites are more destructive than others. Formosan termites in particular can cause considerable damage to a home in as little as six months. This is why it’s essential to have your home regularly inspected for termites as part of a termite protection plan.

When to Get a Termite Inspection

Having your home inspected for termites is essential to preventing damage and keeping your home in optimal condition. At Home Pest Control, we recommend a termite inspection in the following situations:

• If you own a home, regular termite inspections can save you thousands of dollars in potential repair costs.
• If you’re buying or selling a home, a termite inspection is an important part of the home inspection process. It ensures that both the buyer and seller are aware of any potential damage.
• Even if you’re renting a home, regular termite inspections are important. Consider contacting your landlord if you’re concerned that the home you’re renting may be suffering from termite damage.
• If you’re concerned about the potential threat that termites may pose to your family, health, or property, an inspection can put your mind at ease.

Termite Bonds

A termite protection plan from a reputable home pest control company is essential if you want to both keep your home termite free and guard against potential termite damage. But unlike conventional pest control plans -- which typically only include pest inspection and treatment services -- a comprehensive termite control plan will often include what’s called a termite bond as well.

Put simply, a termite bond is an agreement between you (the homeowner) and a home pest control company. This agreement typically contains two parts:

• A termite treatment contract which specifies the details of an ongoing treatment plan (including a termite inspection schedule)
• A guarantee that the pest control company will treat for any termites found, as well as providing coverage for any damage that you may incur from termites

It’s the second part that’s so important. Termite treatment can be very costly. Plus, as we’ve seen above, dealing with termite damage can amount to thousands of dollars in repairs. Additionally, homeowners insurance doesn’t typically cover the cost of termite damage. Without a termite bond in place, any damage your home incurs will have to be paid for out of pocket.

With a termite bond, however, you won’t have to worry about potential costs related to damage. At Home Pest Control, we offer a termite protection program which includes $250,000 in damage coverage, along with a $0 deductible.

How to Get Rid of Termites

Home Pest Control offers affordable, comprehensive termite control and termite treatment services. With our Home Shield Termite Protection service, you’ll receive annual termite monitoring, a detailed termite inspection, termite treatment via our highly effective colony elimination system, and $250,000 in coverage in the event of termite damage.

Want even more protection? Our Home Shield Premier Protection program goes beyond just termites. This treatment plan includes all of the services that are part of our Termite Protection program, and also provides you with ongoing pest control services for a variety of South Carolina pests.

Are you concerned that you may have termites in your home? Contact the experts at Home Pest Control today to schedule a termite inspection.