Bought a house with termites !!

[Gstepp]

Hello,

My wife and I bought a moblie home back in June of 2008 after living in it for a few months we found that this moblie home has a termite infestation. I have notified the park management about this problem on Oct 3rd with a few other problems that were fixed but the termite problem was never addressed they told me that it is not there problem. I had terminix come out and inspect the house and they confirmed that there is a termite infestation. So i talked with Park Management's boss and told him of the findings of the inspection and once again was told (how do you feel this is something that i should fix) I have been told that a house needs to be in saleable condition before it is sold. With that said with termites in it is not in saleable condition. I also looked at our contract and found no disclosure in it about this house having termites to begin with. I have talked to one of the workers here on the property and they were aware of termites in the house before it was sold ! but he was told by his boss to patch it up best as possible and sell it.

What are my options at this point we live in California?

Thanks

Gstepp

Can Anyone Help Please ?

All houses with Termites can absolutely be corrected. As long as the damaged portion of the structure was properly repaired or replaced by a licensed Carpenter and an exterminator has treated the building for Termites and an ongoing annual Termite inspection is scheduled, The Termites will not return. Be sure to get all paperwork (for work performed) at close of escrow. David Valley Certified Massachusetts Home Inspections Massachusetts Home Inspection: Massachusetts Home Inspection: massachusetts home inspection, massachusetts, ma

I was a Realtor/Broker for many years when I was younger. A NEW home with termites? It would be a very Red flag to me. I'd keep looking around. Remember that the seller's agent, unless otherwise stated, works 100% for the seller and the seller's interest. If the seller is also an agent, that fact must be disclosed in the beginning of your first conversation in most states, I understand. If no agents are involved, you open yourself up to a tremendous responsibility which you might regret for the rest of your life. I'd get a "buyers broker", who will work 100% for you and your best interest. It might have been built with cheaper wood and possibly on an old construction site trash pile like older neighbors say ours was when we bought it over 30 yr. ago. Termites are two feet under the ground ALL OVER THE EARTH, except in volcanoes and oceans, I'm told by exterminators whom I worked with. Regardless, there are homes with warranties against such things, not ALL new homes have termites! Existing ones are only controllable if you pay companies enough money to warrant them, and assume responsibility to keep up with when they are to "inspect" for them. It could be that the house was excavated poorly, has poor drainage, has poor soil beneath the foundation, has it's own AND the neighbor's termite colonies breeding, equal to a WHOPPER of a problem, you bet! Worse if there's Carpenter Ants that follow to eat the termites AND the wood! It would be wiser to find perhaps an older home built in the late 80's when the wood was really good, strong, and not in short supply from all the natural disasters America has suffered in the past few years. Get the picture? Their rooms are usually bigger, floorplans very functional, and generally very much in demand, even if you have to offer much less and update it with the difference, which should be much less than a new one WITH TERMITES. The older one will have had MANY inspections/treatments and proof of this in writing for your consideration. Although newer ones SEEM more exciting, exotic, fancier, I'd strongly suggest that you search for the biggest and best of the 80's available, especially if in a VERY nice established neighborhood where values are still holding/rising. Location is EVERYTHING, as well.

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[sandra]

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An organization called the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides collects information on these things to make them accessible to more people. They post some serious, honest data on their Termites Pages (http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html). You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read some of it.

It does seem that the West Coast is still ahead of the pack when it comes improvements in green pest control. California's Environmental Health Coalition posts a very detailed, comprehensive page on the state of the art in Termites treatment. Many of these treatments are organic (http://www.environmentalhealth.org/fs-termite.html): Microwaves, Boric Acid, Electrocution and Fungal pathogens for the ones in the walls of your house (Dry- or Damp-wood Termites); Nematodes, Dry Sand particles and Metal Mesh Screens for the ones in the garden (Subterranean Termites).

Subterranean Termites depend heavily on sources of moisture to thrive. These are the ones that build tiny mud tunnels on the surface of your foundation or in corners - the ones Termites inspectors look for. Their colonies number in the MILLIONS and the damage they do can be very hard to find. Sometimes they just inhabit an old tree stump or felled tree branches. And sometimes they just move right into your house.

The University of California/Santa Clara Coop Extension (Termites, Alternative Control Methods | Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County) explains the termites problem in California - bear in mind this may vary from your own problem: "Control of the Subterranean Termite consists primarily of destroying the tubes and then preventing the Termites from reaching the foundation by physical and/or chemical barriers. Fumigation is never used as a control."

Colonies of Dry-/Damp-wood Termites are much smaller. They work a little slower - fortunately for me - and are harder to find because they actually live INSIDE the wood of your house. You'll find them in the Floors, the Walls, Doorframes, Chimneys Roofing, Shingles, even along Hot Water Pipes. USC Extension experts say: "Colonies start with a single king and queen and develop slowly over the years. It might take seven years to grow to a population of l000 nymphs, soldiers and the king and queen. A colony of this size might eat only one-half pound of wood in a year. It takes many years before Drywood Termites do significant harm to a structure."

You could try to sue the sellers arguing they knew and failed to disclose.

They could be required to pay for all costs to resolve this.