Our company opened another new office today as we continue to takeover the Atlanta real estate market and a good free lunch was a superb bonus. While at the open house I met one of our new strategic partners from a termite company. I asked him if the recent heat wave was as good for his business as i believed. (The 100 degree heat and little rain has driven every bug known to man into our home to cool off and get a drink.) The bug guys are grateful he explained because their business is off from many agents no longer ordering termite clearance letter for closings. HELLLOOOO!! We're in Georgia and are the second most termite-eaten state in the country! You guys are saving $45 to bet that the biggest investment in your life, (and lately much more risky), is free of the wood destroying organisms. You are insane. Liability from this move, at least in my mind, is huge. This business and these transaction are risky enough with out being this bone-headed. Next you'll be taking the seatbelts out of the car to sell on ebay. Wake up real estate 'professional'!! Every buyer gets a letter, even if I have to pay for it. No exceptions!
Atlanta real estate, homes for sale, new homes, foreclosures, luxury homes, relocation. Serving the Atlanta real estate market since 1993 as Atlanta real estate mortgage professional & REALTOR
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What is the number one state?
I am from California but have lived in Georgia and you are so right. Each and every sale should have a termite clearance (especially in states like Georgia). The bugs are everywhere!
True professionals are always full disclosure.
Randy I agree with you completely. I think that the changes to the termite letters that GAR made were a huge mistake. I too, make sure that the buyer gets a clear letter. In most cases I encourage them to make the seller provide it within a few days of the binding agreement, just so we don't have any suprises at closing. You are right, its a liability on us because somehow someone will want to blame the agents if they end up with termites and damage after closing. Good Post!
I agree with you. An inspection is very inexpensive insurance. I've had a borrower who had termite damage to the main support beam of her house, it was only $35,000 to replace those two boards, not that much money right... I mean $75 is a lot for an insepction when you think about it. Wait, that made just as much sense as someone who doesn't have a wood destroying insect inspection done on any house they are buying, and with some regularity during the time they own in.
FHA has made great strides in modernizing (is that a word?) themselves, and removal of the termite inspection report certainly has helped. I'm from CT. and we have a decent number of homes that are infested, I can only imagine what a state in a warmer climate would have. So I think from a borrower protection stand point this is a move in the wrong direction. It would be better if the inspection was required for all kinds of loans. Certainly borrowers would be better protected from having to buy a $35,000 piece of lumber.
You a good agent to make sure your customers are protected even if they do not want to spend a couple bucks on themselves.
We can't close without one and even if we could it's not a chance I would take. Peace of mind goes a long way...
Randy,
There are two kinds of homes in Maryland...those that have been treated for termites and those that will be treated for termites. For goodness sake...get a termite inspection. I have a company that will do free pre-listing inspection for my sellers...and I make use of it.
Randy,
There are two kinds of homes in Maryland...those that have been treated for termites and those that will be treated for termites. For goodness sake...get a termite inspection. I have a company that will do free pre-listing inspection for my sellers...and I make use of it.
HA! HA! I am pretty sure that we '"Florida is Number 1". As we say there are only two kinds of homes in Fl, "those with termites and those that are going to have termites." Good advice on spending that $45.00 one would be insane to fore-go it.
I agree!