Buying Home with Live Termite around House Yard

LJalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 02:00
Last edited 01/05/2022 - 02:04

Hello Ozbargainer,

I have been directed here from the solicitor, vendor, building and pest inspector also family and friends.

I have got a house that I really like, we are going to sign the contract on Monday but building inspection and pest report came back with bad news.

  1. Live termite in the rear yard, back fences, site fences and large dead tree. House moisture is a bit of warning around 13% but the inspector said there were no sign of termite inside (although high risk of termite and needed an maintenance ASAP) of the building and moisture is a bit high because of current owner blocked the weep holes with silicone.

  2. None

We wouldn’t mind to get it treated, we aren’t sure if it is worth to buy considering the high risk the termite travel to the inside house and we are thinking there are chances building inspector might have missed it because no one is 100% sure until they open the gyprock / board open.

Have anyone ever had similar situation, get the termite treated and never see them again?

Note:
1. Termite type is Coptotermes Spp (dry wood termites)
2. Building and pest inspection suggested not to buy the property and look elsewhere.

Your opinion and help is really matter, and apologize if this bother anyone.

Thank you for taking your time reading it through!

Votes is made for the question of

Will you consider buying the house with the situation?

Please spare your time to vote, your 1 click is matter a lot to us.

Poll Options

  • 6
    Yes
  • 77
    No
  • 7
    I dont care
Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 01/05/2022 - 02:08
    +18

    Building and pest inspection suggested not to buy the property and look elsewhere.

    So an expert told you this, but you want anecdotal answers from random people instead, that have no context of your specific situation…

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 02:15
      -4

      Honestly, he could said that so he can have another building inspection again from me?

      He did said tho if we are still interested then we need to get a treatment asap and it is costly. Which we wouldn’t mind but never experience this before and would love to hear anyone experiences.

      • Hybroid on 01/05/2022 - 02:20

        So get a quote on how long it takes and how much it costs to get the treatment done and make a decision on whether you want to go ahead or not. No one else's experience matters really as no guarantee yours will be the same.

        • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 02:22

          Great idea, we were planning to call a pest expert to inspect the property on Monday.

  • bobbified on 01/05/2022 - 02:14
    +1

    Building and pest inspection suggested not to buy the property and look elsewhere.

    These guys are the experts and they've seen the problem at the house first hand, so I would listen to them. Don't get emotionally attached to the house and buy into a potentially huge problem.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 02:16

      That is true, we are not too emotionally attached to it because we love it, price wise it is pretty good and it is in great area. Seller didn’t admit there is termite in the property although I can understand his position. The house is 10% below market.

      • Hardlyworkin on 01/05/2022 - 06:13
        +3

        Maybe 10% of it is about to fall down!

  • altomic on 01/05/2022 - 02:40

    read this recent thread regarding DIY termite treatment

  • he11bent on 01/05/2022 - 02:41
    +3

    If the experts said not to purchase the property, perhaps heed their advice.

    I'd be more worried about the house moisture due to the weep holes being blocked. Used to live in a rental unit that had practically no ventilation and the suite toilet had no fan. Used to shower with the door open so it doesn't fog up the toilet, big mistake. When it came time to move into our own place. Moved the drawers, there was mold behind them and in the clothes closet, found mold else on ceiling in the closet as well. Moisture inside any home is one of the worst things you can have, it ages paint and walls, and of course mold growth.

    The house maybe 10% below market value, but it could be that you'd be spending over that to make it properly habitable without future worry.

    Besides, wait for the RBA decision, that could affect prices in the next few months.

    It's a sellers market right now, noticed there's been an increase in listings, especially the past 3 weeks. People are worried about interest rates, and rightly so. If you can wait, perhaps do that.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:31

      It does have few mould here and there but we wouldn’t concern too much as. I am not sure about the price drop because of interest rate rise, imo people will try to shave money here and there and selling their house is the last thing they would do but it just me personally, other people circumstances could be differents. Thank you for your advice.

  • trustnoone on 01/05/2022 - 04:31
    +1
    1. Building and pest inspection suggested not to buy the property and look elsewhere.

    IMO you could always get a second opinion? Ask them how much remediation would cost (and likenesses it will stay that way), that way you can weight it up against price of property or use it as bargaining to see if price can be reduced.
    End of the day though I'd have to trust the recommendation of the professional over mine.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:33

      Yeah we might go to pest control to ask them to do another thorough inspection.

  • holdenmg on 01/05/2022 - 04:34
    +1

    Run, Forrest, Run!

  • onetwothreefour on 01/05/2022 - 07:13
    +6

    I have been directed here from the solicitor, vendor, building and pest inspector also family and friends.

    Your solicitor told you to ask this on ozbargain?

    • SBOB on 01/05/2022 - 07:27
      +1

      Definitely find a better solictor:)

    • ChrisLevo on 01/05/2022 - 09:55

      I call BS on that one.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:34
      +1

      No, I was just joking. Obviously it will be illegal for them to ask for advice and it will be useless for paying them then? Better donate to scotty 😂

  • barge-in hunter on 01/05/2022 - 07:28

    Simple question:

    If it has termites, can you afford (potentially extensive) repairs while staying in your house budget?

    The risk here is you could essentially be adding a hundred thousand dollars to the purchase price, whereas you could get a better house without imminent termite risk for the same price

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:36

      If potentially extensive damage meant $100k + then no, we wouldn’t be afford to fix them and not worth to spent that amount in our opinion. Your opinion does make sense.

  • screensaver on 01/05/2022 - 07:33
    +1

    This is a land value only deal. Leave it to a developer that can knock the whole lot down. Dont buy into a problem, unless you can afford to build a new house and granny flat

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:37

      Definetely not going to be able to build a new house with building material and labor change their price everyday.

  • brad1-8tsi on 01/05/2022 - 07:41
    +5

    It took 1 year for white ants to do $50k of structural damage to my old house.

    They ate into the hardwood floor joists like it was crack cocaine.

    Run as fast as you can.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:39

      That is really quick, it must be devastating spending $50k. I wonder if ever any insurance will cover this termite problems?

      • Webber000 on 01/05/2022 - 13:55

        No, insurance will probably not cover you as it was an existing problem when you bought the house so you will probably not be able to claim.
        You say you aren't emotionally attached to the house - but your replies indicate otherwise!
        Experts have told you not to buy. 10% is not going to be cheap enough for a property with issues. Only think about proceeding if you can get the house much cheaper. So you could afford to spend $50k-$100k fixing it all if its the worst case. The termites are probably already SOMEWHERE in the house even if you can't see it yet.

      • brad1-8tsi on 02/05/2022 - 15:10
        +1

        White ants are amazing engineers. They know exactly how much to eat before the member gives way.

        In this case they attacked every second floor joist.

        When my ex & I split up in 2016, she wanted the house. We got a price estimate for the repairs and made an allowance for that in the price we agreed on. AFAIK it hasn't been repaired but I believe there is no dancing in that room anymore. :-)

  • EightImmortals on 01/05/2022 - 07:53

    Negotiate the cost of the pest treatment and tree removal off the price of the home.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:40

      This is good advice, perhaps we might do that after we got the quote from the pest inspector.

  • wei13 on 01/05/2022 - 08:39
    +2

    Are there ANY signs of termite damage to the house? How far from the house are the live termites? Stump or slab?

    Inspectors will have to recommend you against buying to cover any chance of there being something they didn't pick up. (There is always risk of stuff not picked up with any house).

    If the house itself is fine, then I think can be considered (for the right price + assuming good quality building inspection). Termidor barrier is very effective at preventing termite entry. Conducive things like dead tree can be removed. Fences can be replaced and soil treated with Termidor.

    Moisture reading could be due to weather. Or If the property has generally bad drainage around the house I'd be cautious as difficult to rectify. Or if the weep holes are already under soil level then may be difficult too.

    Personally , if the house itself is fine, then I'd negotiate hard.

    Ps. Personal experience buying house with termites + high risk in past.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:45

      No signs of any termite from the building & pest inspector, but some moisture reading around 13% which is high and he said it was because of leak bathroom and perhaps hot pipe.

      Live termite is at the back yard and tree in the yard approx 10m, but side gate fences does have them too. That is what we thought, they will tell you not to buy just to cover themselves.

      Weather was fine, but he said it is due to weep holes being blocked by silicone so he is confident moisture reading will drop once weep holes is unblocked and bathroom leak repaired.

      The house itself is fine for now but the inspector said it will be not too long before they reach the house. When you said negotiating hard, how much % from market value?

      • wei13 on 01/05/2022 - 22:41

        I'm from SEQ so no idea of crazy Sydney market and how much % I'd negotiate there. But I negotiate based on the risk I am taking on - which is whether there is already termite damage to the house itself.

  • thirtysixd on 01/05/2022 - 08:50

    Those termites prefer to eat dry wood over wet and rotting foundations.
    Sounds like you should ignore your paid professional advice.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:49

      I never know any / interested to learn about termites until comes a cross with them. Googling it said a high destructive termites?

  • Traveller107 on 01/05/2022 - 10:04

    Depends where the property is located. If the house is in SEQueensland and within budget then it's still a promising purchase as long as the termites are not in the house itself. Mainly because almost EVERY property in Seq has live termites on the premises whether found in b&p or not. It's just the nature of the region. Just put a barrier upon purchase anyways these days they're quite affordable.

    I've never seen a b&p guy recommend not buying a property based on live termites around the fences. Atleast never in SEQ. They usually only say that if there is active termite damage in the house itself that might be expensive to repair.

    If the property is in another state then that's a different matter.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:52

      The house is in Sydney. Yeah didn’t know about how bad termites in Qld until I search every good article and good pest control all located in Qld. The property inspector said this is the 2nd time in his whole career over decades to have found live termite in the inspection tho. Usually only past activity.

  • BHR on 01/05/2022 - 10:06

    Where are you?

    We lived in an area where termites were everywhere. Similar position to you, we bought. Found some minor damage we repaired during renos. Installed a termite system similar to new houses required in the area - inspection stations every two metres or so surrounding the house with more appealing wood. Any stop by replace with bait until the colony dies and then back to wood.

    It’s a risk, if you know the extent of any ore-existing damage it’s a manageable risk, but it does have on going costs.

    • JalapenoSpicy on 01/05/2022 - 10:54

      In Sydney. We dont mind on-going cost if it just few grand here and there as it is not a new property. Do you ever have any concern if you are going to sale in the future there will be a history of live termites in the house and it effect the price?

      • BHR on 01/05/2022 - 21:42

        There will be some people that are concerned, sure. Are they the most likely buyer, no.

        Will it impact the price? Maybe, but you’d assume it impacts it as much as it is for you. So I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

  • D3HUN on 01/05/2022 - 11:27

    Buy the property if you like it/don't mind the risk, but adjust the offer down price accordingly (eg. cost of treatment, plus a little inconvenience fee).

  • loropy9 on 01/05/2022 - 12:35

    Some specialized companies do thermal imaging to detect live termites in the walls. If you cut down the infested tree and invest in termite barriers and monitoring stations, you may be able to live there trouble free. If the house is timber frame I'd be more cautious. If it's brick all you need to worry about is the roof timber frame.

  • pharkurnell on 01/05/2022 - 12:40

    Why bother having a report if your going to ignore it?

    your heart is set on the place ….. not the best way to go about buying a house.

  • ihbh on 01/05/2022 - 15:24

    Considerations:

    1. Everything has a price - how much is the price discounted from a house without the problems vs cost of remediation?

    2. Okay to miss out, prices are going down, down down.

  • miwahni on 01/05/2022 - 21:44
    +2

    Do you know why the house is 10% below the market value? Because to me that says there's some sort of issue. Vendor doesn't have to disclose termite infestations, property is very much a buyer-beware game, which is why you get a pest and building inspection done. If you choose to ignore those… well, you do you.

  • yokel on 02/05/2022 - 18:57

    Don’t get into it unless you’re a tradie and know what you are getting into.

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