[paula1]

I've put an offer in on a property subject to building inspection.
The house is about 50-60 years old and brick.
I expect there to be a few things that will come up on the building inspection and certainly don't expect perfection.

If there are termites, how big a problem is it if it's not totally infested but perhaps partly. I have no idea if there are any but just preparing myself!
Can you expect a home of this age to be totally free of termites or are some to be expected?

Would you not buy if there were some there? Of course i'd get it treated if there were some, I've never had to deal with this so i'm totally clueless on this topic.

Any advice would be great

[Bek+3]

Can you expect a home of this age to be totally free of termites or are some to be expected?

Yes you certainly can OP. My house is around 117 years old, solid wood outside and in and completely free of termites.

If an inspection reveals termites, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. A guy I use to work with bought a house with termites. They knew when they bought it... but the small problem they anticipated turned out to be 10 times worse then they had been told, it cost them upwards of 50k to repair and broke up the marriage. Believe me I know how stressful these termites were to their lives, I sat in the same room as the guy for 38 hours a week.

[paula1]

Thanks Bek,

I thought that it might depend on the severity of the damage. If it's totally riddled with them or if there is a area that can be repaired and perhaps not totally ruined.

This post has been edited by paula1: 17/11/2012, 07:55 AM

[Bek+3]

Yes. I think the problem was not one expected the extent of the damage until they really got in there and needed to rip and repair more and more and more.

[CharliMarley]

We purchased this 20 year old house in a rural area, 14 years ago and we discovered termites, but they were only in the back part of the house, which was on a concrete slab (the back part only). We had the termites treated and eradicated and it cost around $3,000.00, but this was 14 years ago, so it would be more expensive now. We had to renew a window frame in a sunroom and some of the skirting boards were eaten by the little monsters. I think they may be more prolific in rural areas, but I don't know.

[BabeBlossom]

We bought a house in a known termite area with termites. The termites were only found in excess wood left under the house, as there was so much of it we were told they'd had no need to touch the house yet.
We had in the terms of sale that the termites be treated before we settle, or at least we thought. Apparently the wording was ambiguous and the sellers conveyancer said they wouldn't pay. We ended up negotiating directly with the owner to pay half thanks to the real estate agents help. So make sure you get the wording checked if it becomes an issue.

[sarkazm76]

When the pest inspection is done you should attend and talk directly to the inspector and ask him/ her how bad it is - if there is any. They should be able to give you some idea. If it's more than minor then you could ask a termite company to come, have a look and quote for you. Then use that to reduce the price you will pay to buy the hosue

We discovered we had them in a door frame under our internal stairs last year. Cost $3000 to get rid of them, treat, barrier protect. They come back every year and inspect, re do the barrier. It costs us a few hundred each time but they guarantee no termites in the house if we keep this up. If there are they fix it free! We knew the previous owners had had barrier treatment before as all the hoels were already dug and there is a treach around the house that is full of pebbles to create a barrier between plants and house.... we jsut forgot to keep up with it when it was due!

[wenchwitch]

Dependent on what comes back I would pay the extra and get a termite specialist in to give you a full assessment. From memory it cost us about $280 in Sydney and was worth every cent

[TillyTake2]

It really depends. Many houses, particuarly in termite areas, may have past termite damage or signs of past termite activity. Ours certainly did & the guy who did the inspection said over 80% of the houses in our area have some level of termite damage or evidence of activity. The house was structurally sound & they'd treated the termites effectively so it wasn't a concern. We monitor it & have them come & check periodically.