Beltran Properties

The informed homeowner june 2010

Our year is nearly half over. It sure passed fast. A new issue I have become aware of is related to the termite inspection and the termite inspector. There has been a lot of controversy about wether the "termite" man is searching for work, or doing a proper report. And about the "new" orange treatment. Having jumped into the middle of this in a sale, I researched. What I found is interesting.

When you search the "structual pest control board" in the state of California, and key word "orange" you find a lot of comments in the annual meeting. They are basically negative. They say the "orange" people are giving false advertizement. They say the spot treatment will not get rid of all the termites, and if you find more, they are "new". What I could not find is if they can certify a "section one clearance". If they can do that, then they are a valid treatment. Always ask questions!

The other issue is if the termite inspector is just making work. We do not crawl under with them, and a lot of things they point out are minute. I do remember our association discussing that very fact, and that the free report was the first red flag. I am not sure, but I thought that you had to use someone else to do the "repairs", not the inspecting company. That is something I will follow up on as I want to be informed.

Any feedback on this issue is appreciated.