How Long Does A Termite Inspection Take?

Dealing with termites and other wood-destroying organisms is not only tough, but it can also cost a lot of money. If you suspect you have a termite infestation on your property, you should schedule a professional termite inspection first before thinking about any fixes (which is only natural).

This inspection checks if there are signs of termite activity on your property, and if any remediation procedures are necessary. 

Since time is always of the essence in these situations, you’re most likely wondering how long does an inspection take. In this post, we explain all the fine details of the inspection process, how long it takes, and if there’s anything you can do to expedite it.

What Does A Termite Inspection Look Like?

Termite inspections are comprehensive by design. The inspector will examine every nook and cranny of your property, and they’ll take even more care when checking some common areas termites prefer to attack, such as baseboards, crawl spaces, cabinets, and so on.

Since termites sometimes travel along pipes in order to make it past concrete barriers, the inspector will spend a lot of time inspecting utility rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.

After closely examining the interior, the inspector will move their attention to the exterior. They’ll evaluate the condition of exterior walls, eaves, and foundations to find evidence of termite activity. 

A termite inspection also covers additional areas of the property, and it’s necessary to inspect any mounds or damaged wood on the premises. 

Many homeowners are suspicious of a termite inspection because they think it will result in damage to their property. While a part of that concern is justified, termites prefer to stay hidden and inspectors know how to check for these pests in hard-to-reach areas without resorting to invasive methods like drilling or using chemicals.

The Average Length Of Time Required For A Termite Inspection

With that being said, how long does a termite inspection take? 

There is no clear answer to this question as there are too many factors involved. The size of your home and the square footage of the surrounding area, for instance, will heavily affect how long does a termite inspection take. Furthermore, the layout of the home, and the number of rooms with pipes, and openings will also contribute to the overall length of the inspection.

Lastly, if the interior is cluttered and the inspector can’t access some areas of your home, you can expect the inspection to take longer as you’ll have to assist the technician in clearing out the clutter.

To be safe, leave aside an hour to two hours, as most inspections are completed in that particular time frame. 

How To Speed Up The Inspection Process

To ensure the inspection goes as smoothly as possible, you should do the following. 

1. Clear out tight spaces

Clear out everything, including cleaning products from underneath the sinks and near other plumbing fixtures.

The same applies to the garage. Many people store boxes and cabinets here, so make sure to push any items two feet away from the walls.

2. See to it that the attic is accessible

Termites can enter your home through the attic, making it one of the most important areas for inspection. Thus, you should clear out any clutter blocking the entryway. Similar to what you did in the garage, pull any items in the attic two feet away from the wall.

Since the most popular way to access the attic is a pull-down ladder, confirm it’s working and whether it’s safe to use. 

If you have any important items, make certain they are secured, as the inspector will also have to walk onto the roof to check the attic from above, which can disrupt and knock off items located in the attic. 

3. Uncover the crawl space

It’s not uncommon for the crawl space cover to be covered by furniture or other items. To avoid the scenario in which the inspection grinds to a halt because the door to the crawl space is inaccessible, remove everything that’s in the way.

What Happens Once The Inspection Is Complete?

After examining the property and there are clear signs of a termite infestation, the inspector will provide you with a comprehensive report that divulges their findings. 

The report may include the extent and size of the infestation, concentration points, as well as descriptions of the incurred damage or other pertinent information.

In addition, the inspector will also provide you with an estimate of treatment, repair, and follow-up removal costs. They most likely already know about the best exterminators in the area and will help determine the best approach for remediation that falls within your budget.

Are Termite Inspections Required In Florida?

Although they’re not required by the state, termite or WDO (wood-destroying organisms) inspections are very important. In many cases, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover the damage from termites or other WDOs. Since an inspection can help you catch infestations while they’re still in infancy, you can save thousands of dollars on repairs.

When it comes to selling a property, a termite inspection isn’t required by the state. Yet, it’s useful to schedule an inspection before listing the property. If no signs of termites are present, you can include the examination as a part of the purchase price. Alternatively, if you do have termites and you resolve the problem, you can do the same with the price of remediation. 

Buyers, on the other hand, may need to show an inspection report in the loan approval process, as lenders aren’t willing to pay for a property damaged by termites.

Bye bye Mr. Termite

The heat and air humidity in Florida represents the essential ingredients termites need to thrive. Sadly, these insects are typically well-hidden, and by the time you see evidence of their activity, the infestation will most likely be in full swing.

This is why you shouldn’t lose time calling Guardian Angel Inspections. With a deep level of expertise and highly-trained inspectors, we can provide you with the best possible termite or WDO inspection in South Florida.

Schedule an inspection by filling out this contact form or dialing 561-512-7854 and find out just why so many homeowners have chosen to work exclusively with Guardian Angel Inspections