Termite Trouble: How to Sell Your Home With These Little Destructive Houseguests

Is it hard to sell a house that has had termites?

Termites damage around 600,000 homes in the U.S. each year, while the National Pest Management Association estimates that termites cost Americans $5 billion annually.

“Just about every house in South Florida has some previous evidence or live infestation of termites,” says Eddie Blanco, a top-selling Hialeah, Florida agent. But that hasn’t stopped him from transacting over 4,073 real estate deals in his career.

When selling a home that has — or has had — termites, there are two common options. As a homeowner, you can either:

1. Repair and remedy any termite damage, disclose any known property issues, list the home on the open market, and consider selling the home with a warranty.
2. Skip all the hoopla of repairs, showings, and listing and sell the home as-is to a cash buyer.

Many factors, like the severity of the termite infestation and the level of damage to the home, can impact which selling method is the better choice. To learn more, let’s take a closer look at the first option.

Option 1: Selling your home with termite damage on the open market

Depending on the extent of the termite damage, it’s possible to sell a home like any other house (and even price it for its full market value).

Though “termite damage” can sound scary for buyers, you can take five steps as a seller to calm their concerns:

Pay for a pest inspection

When you’re ready to sell your house, get ahead of the game by scheduling a pre-listing inspection and a pest inspection to survey your overall property. Hiring a pest inspector with the right trained eye will ensure someone properly scours your property for any signs of unwanted critters, which can put you in a better selling position.

“You could identify these issues first, and then you don’t have the buyer identifying them after you’ve negotiated a contract,” advises Blanco. “You get to address these issues before listing the house.”

After the inspection, you’ll receive a report providing the next steps you can take as a homeowner to solve or prevent future pest issues.

To find reputable pest inspectors in your area, ask your Realtor® for recommendations, check reviews on sites like Angi or Yelp, or search the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) online database.

Disclose known issues (even if you’re not required to by law)

A state’s disclosure laws — what information sellers must lawfully disclose to prospective buyers — vary by state. To avoid any legal trouble, follow your state’s disclosure laws carefully and share any information regarding material defects, the condition of the property, and yes, any current activity or history of termites (…even if they’re long gone).

Not to mention it’s always best practice to be upfront and honest and keep your buyer’s trust from the get-go. Chances are, once the buyer has the home inspected, they’ll find out about the infestation or any troublesome areas of the house, anyway.

In the end, “it’s not worth it to try to hide termite issues,” advises Blanco.

Handle the repairs before you list the home on the market

In extreme cases, termites can weaken the wood in your home enough to cause a collapse.

Luckily, however, that’s not the norm. According to national pest experts at Orkin, “It is rare but possible for some termite species to damage a house beyond repair if the infestation is left untreated for many years.”

If caught within the first year, many homeowners only need to pay extermination fees.

Extermination fees range from $230 to $930, with the average cost for most homeowners landing around $575. Costs vary based on the size of the home, the type of treatment used, and how many times treatment is required. For example, if a home exterminator determines your house requires a high level of treatment, this could mean they’ll tent and fumigate your property, which can ring in at around $2,500.

If the wood in your home is damaged from the infestation, there are two ways to repair it:

• Completely replace the wood (brownie points if it’s replaced with a termite-resistant material)
•  Reinforce the damaged wood with new support boards — a less costly option.

If your property has experienced extensive structural damage, you might also need to:

• Repair framing in your home
• Reinstall insulation in crawl spaces or the attic
• Repair and clean small spaces with extensive infestation
• Replace drywall

Some repairs are minor enough that a simple wood hardener and sealant will do the trick, but if termites have done more significant damage, you’ll need to call in a professional termite repair specialist.

For example, mud tubes that go between the soil and wood of your home are a sign that destructive subterranean termites have taken up shop in your residence, and they can eat away at your property’s structure.

Depending on the severity of the damage, repairs can range from $238 to $995, says Angi.

To avoid a worst-case scenario and bypass hefty repair costs, try to put preventive measures in place and spot termites early on (tips on that below).

Offer a warranty to bring peace of mind to potential buyers

Termite repairs and treatment typically come with a year-long warranty that can transfer to the buyer at the time of purchase. This warranty, while it acknowledges a history of termites in the home, helps with the sale and shows potential buyers that the home has been well maintained.

“I would say [a termite warranty from an exterminator] is equal to, if not more than, the cost of the treatment. That’s money buyers know they’re not going to have to spend,” says Blanco.

Negotiate on price as needed

Along with your termite warranty, providing proof of treatment and doctoring up your house with any necessary repairs will put you in a stronger selling position when listing your home.

Blanco advises how some buyers might try to negotiate price based on the extent of the damage, but it’s rare to see a buyer step away from a property based on termites alone.

“I’ve never seen a home sale fail because of the amount of termite damage. The damage isn’t so significant that it hinders the actual transaction,” recalls Blanco.

Often, the warranty and treatment pay off nearly dollar for dollar at the time of sale.

With a minor infestation or easily treatable damage, disclosing termites to potential buyers isn’t a kiss of death. Instead, extensive documentation of the issue and repairs, including proof of treatment and warranty, can make you look prepared as a seller, giving buyers the reassurance they need.