So I'm in the process of buying a townhome here in Morrisville. I did a termite inspection and it came back positive. The inspector found tunnels on the front foundation wall but they had not yet penetrated the wood. He also found damage inside the house along the baseboard inside the laundry room, right behind where the dryer sits. He suspects they came up either along a water pipe or throguh a crack in the slab. Now, I'm protected by my contract since it says I can pretty much peace the fuck out right now and get all my money back if an inspection came back positive.

My question is, should I just go ahead and run the other way, or try and get the seller to repair the damage/retreat the home. I do like the house, and would hate to lose it over something that may be minor and isolated, but I am also scared to death of the long term implications. A termite infestation on record is going to hurt my ability to resell the place down the road and there is always the possibility they could come back. Anyone have an experience with this, either buying, owning, or selling a house that had a termite infestation?

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 4:10 PM. Reason : wording]

2/12/2008 4:08:19 PM

I'd start with asking whoever did the inspection.

Then I'd peace the fuck out and find a different place--not worth the risk IMO

2/12/2008 4:12:59 PM

run and don't ever look back

2/12/2008 4:14:24 PM

Quote :

"A termite infestation on record is going to hurt my ability to resell the place down the road and there is always the possibility they could come back. Anyone have an experience with this, either buying, owning, or selling a house that had a termite infestation?"

There is no record going to be kept of it. There is also no possibility they will come back if your soil is treated properly from now on.

If you really want the house negotiate with the seller to get repairs done to your satisfaction and by a company willing to warranty their work. Obviously if they jerk you around at all, that would be a good time to walk.

The seller is going to have to fix this to get the house sold. If they fix it now and you are still willing to buy then they are a lot better off.

2/12/2008 4:25:00 PM

have the seller replace the damaged wood and get a full termite treatment and you should be golden.

2/12/2008 4:25:06 PM

termites are like whores

all they want to do is eat wood

2/12/2008 4:49:21 PM

the inspector and/or a termite/pest control company is a much better place to ask than tww on this

2/12/2008 4:59:14 PM

Well, the inspector did say that it wasn't so bad that it should turn me off from buying the house. It's not his money or his investment though, so what does he care? I just wanted to see if anyone had gone through a similar situation and how it turned out for them. Thanks for (some) of the responses so far.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 5:05 PM. Reason : :]

2/12/2008 5:04:32 PM

Quote :

"If you really want the house negotiate with the seller to get repairs done to your satisfaction and by a company willing to warranty their work. Obviously if they jerk you around at all, that would be a good time to walk. The seller is going to have to fix this to get the house sold. If they fix it now and you are still willing to buy then they are a lot better off."

Can the seller even fix it since it is a townhome? Obviously the baseboard can be fixed, but it seems like the townhome association is responsible for any exterior damage and I don't know who should/can fix it if he finds damage to the framing, subfloor, etc.

My suggestion would be to run. You'll lose your inspection money ($350?) but you're better off now, tomorrow, and 20 years from now. It's a townhome...They should have had the foresight to create preventative measures to make sure this never happened in the first place. If it has termites today there is no telling what else will happen in the future. Just run.

2/12/2008 5:16:07 PM

you couldn't hit a golf ball and miss a townhouse community from any major road.

you have pick of the litter, act like it.

2/12/2008 7:09:17 PM

Quote :

"Just run."

2/12/2008 7:11:23 PM

get as far away from that place as you can and forget you ever looked at it

2/12/2008 7:20:38 PM

It's a buyer's market. Houses are for sale EVERYWHERE.


Run like the wind and find another, it won't be hard.

2/12/2008 7:23:16 PM

It's a townhome. Even if that unit is fixed they will come over from the neighbor's place.

Run. Way too many better options out there.

2/12/2008 7:34:13 PM

most townhome communities have a termite bond i thought that is payed through their HOA dues - if this one doesn't the chances of that getting added i would imagine are slim - run if that's the case

2/12/2008 9:09:34 PM

BUY BUY BUY

2/12/2008 11:49:17 PM