{"id":89281,"date":"2018-10-21T14:17:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T21:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinintheverdes.com\/?p=89281"},"modified":"2018-10-21T14:44:02","modified_gmt":"2018-10-21T21:44:02","slug":"termites-and-roof-leaks-and-rodents-oh-my","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robinintheverdes.com\/?p=89281","title":{"rendered":"Termites and roof leaks and rodents. Oh my."},"content":{"rendered":"

Part of the process of selling a home involves an inspection of the property before the buyer and seller can finalize the sale. Termites and roof leaks are two maintenance musts that can really impact the value of a property if not addressed.\u00a0\u00a0We have written articles before about how to manage this step, but with the recent unusual amount of rain this summer two issues that can jeopardize a sale have come to light.\u00a0These do not go away on their own.\u00a0 While we are at it, let\u2019s add rodents to the list.<\/p>\n

We have seen inspections where there is evidence of a roof leak or even possible termite or rodent invasion.\u00a0 The $64,000 question is: is this NEW damage, or was it there before and the necessary steps have been taken to remediate the situation?\u00a0 The agents look to past receipts of repairs and treatments, along with the recollection of the seller\u2019s history of the property.\u00a0 But does this answer the question?<\/p>\n

Here is the scenario<\/strong><\/em>:\u00a0 There is a round brown spot on the ceiling in the living room.\u00a0 Evidence that there is a roof leak somewhere.\u00a0 Call the roofer!\u00a0 The roofer finds a breach on the flat roof and fixes the leak, or so he thought.\u00a0 Oh no!\u00a0 A termite tube is found on the stem wall by the patio, or rodent droppings.\u00a0 Call the exterminator!\u00a0 He comes out and treats the area.\u00a0 Four months later you put your house on the market.\u00a0 The buyer notices that there is a spot on the ceiling and a tube on the stem wall.\u00a0 The buyer and the inspector cannot rule out that there is an active leak and termite activity. \u00a0You fight back and claim you had the area fixed, and you even have receipts.\u00a0 Still, how do you prove that the leak is not due to new damage or roofer error, and there is another infestation of pests beyond what you treated?<\/p>\n

The quick easy fix and insurance that you will know if damage is old or new is to repair the previous damage caused by a leak, termites or rodents.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 We do not in any way want you to think that we are encouraging sellers to hide evidence of potential damage to a property.\u00a0 We are bound by law to disclose anything that could affect the material value of a property.<\/p>\n