5 Ways Infestation Can Devalue a Home

Is your home infested with rodents or insects? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, termites alone infect 600,000 homes across the nation. This not only devalues the home’s resale value, but also costs thousands of dollars on inspection, pest control treatment, and home repairs.

When people hear “pest control,” they assume that it’s going to wipe out the insects or rodents. Pest control involves maintaining the safety of your home, your pets, and your loved ones. This billion dollar business protects many homes from the risks involved with damage and costly repairs.

Ruins Housing Structure

Termites can eat their way through your home’s structure and foundation. They can weaken your home’s support beams and cause it to lose its overall aesthetic appeal. A termite infestation in your housing structure can quickly reduce the value of your home.

Most termites find their way into your home through the foundation. Most foundations are made from concrete, but any crack in the foundation can lead them to wooden passageways. If you’re adding an extension, including a chemical termite barrier to prevent them from getting into the cracks of your foundation. Call a licensed contractor if you’re unsure of how to handle termites.

Reduces Value of Your Home

There’s nothing scarier for buyers than to walk into a home and see signs of infestation. An insect or rodent infestation can reduce the value of your home by 20%, but only if it’s treated. Taking care of your home as soon as you notice an infestation can help you maintain the value of your home.

If you have a pest control problem, treat this problem as soon as possible. Contact a pest control service in your area. If you leave this problem untreated, your home will be hard to sell when it’s time.

Increases Renovation Costs

Termite infestation can drive up renovation and repair costs. Termites love to chew wood and other materials on your property. When inspection time rolls around, a few cracks in your foundation is going to reduce the value of your home. Even if you take your home off the market, these cracks can lead to serious problems in the future. It’s best to address this problem as soon as you can.

Damages Your Furniture

It’s no secret that termites love to chomp on wood. They’ll also eat other wood materials in your home such as your furniture. An infestation not only leaves damage on your home, but also on your wooden furniture, paper products, carpeting, and anything else that contains cellulose. Even though your furniture is not being sold along with your home, these signs of damage can reduce the value of your home.

Reduces Your Home’s Real Estate Value

Termite damage can also reduce your home’s real estate value. If you have termite damage on your property, you are required by law to let potential buyers know about it. This termite damage can influence the way an appraiser determines the value of your home.

It will also allow your buyers to have a bargaining advantage when it comes to selling your home. Disclose any information of insect or rodent infestations to potential buyers in both a written and a verbal agreement.

Creates a Negative Market Image

Termite infestation can create a negative market image for potential buyers. Once the word gets out, some of them will be scared off from wanting to buy your home. A home that has a history of infestation can lose its market value pretty quickly. While there’s nothing you can do about this matter, you may find the right person who doesn’t care.

These are just some of the ways that infestation can devalue your home. While some of these problems can be fixed with the help of a contractor or pest control, others such as a history of infestation can be harder to move on from. Fixing the problem as soon as possible can help maintain the value of your home.

Infestation can lead to serious damage to your home. Health risks are also on the rise when it comes to pest infestation. Most of these rodents can cause dangerous and unsanitary living conditions when left indoors. You can increase the value of your home and save yourself money by handling these pest problems ahead of time.