When schedules can be worked out, Dan Suomi, of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, is a presenter at the Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training program at Bellingham Technical College. In the old days, a year back, anyone who was a home inspector in the State of Washington was required to be licensed by the WSDA as a structural pest inspector if any conducive conditions (moisture or problems that could cause rot or attract insects) or instances of rot or wood destroying insects were cited in a report. With the creation of the sole "home inspector", a result of licensing, a home inspector with no WSDA license may now mention rot and conducive conditions but he or she may not cite specific problems with insects in the report or verbally. If the home inspector has any suspicion, at all, of there being insect problems, the wording that is allowed by WSDA is limiting. In my market, Bellingham, it seems that we inspectors are keeping our structural pest inspector licenses so we are dual licensed. I have heard that in other areas, the now, and newly licensed, home inspectors are dropping the structural pest inspector licenses. That is a personal business decision at this point. And consumers, on the other hand, also need to make a personal decision as to whether or not they wish to hire only a home inspector or if they wish to hire an individual with a dual license, who is legally allowed to provide them with more information. In many states that segregation has been the case for years, in Washington realtors and buyers have come to expect, in most instances, a structural pest inspection with a home purchase. Historically, in my market, some of the biggest "deal-killers" involve the wood destroying insects -- anobiid beetles or carpenter ants. Thanks for stopping by, Steven L. Smith
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I believe that many lenders made a serious mistake back about 7 years ago when many of them dropped the requirement for pest inspection reports for conventional financing.
I wouldn't consider selling a home without a pest inspection.
Over the years, we've lost one contract due to termite infestation and damages. That property was riddled with termintes and serious damage to sill place and more. The sellers, however, decided to get their own inspection that showd a small infestation and no damage.
Go figure.
We were outta there.
Harold,
Interesting. I encounter wood destroying insects probably close to 50 percent of the time, anobiid being the big one, so keeping that license seems mandatory to me. But I see your point.
So why do they spell anobiid with two "i's?"
Hi Steve, You really are seeing alot more Anobiids up in Bellingham. I don't get up that way often. When I first started out, I use to see alot more homes with damage from them. But I think alot has changed. First, my prices were lower, and I appealed to the first time buyers, who could afford the older starter homes which have a higer probability of these issues. I use to inspect alot more North Everett homes than I do today. Today my prices and experience level appeal to those buyers who are looking for quality rather than price. So I tend to be inspecting alot more newer homes, many that are higher end. Anobiids don't like engineered I joists. :) But what else has changed in our industry is that many of those older homes that use to have the pest problems have changed hands, been through inspections, these problems were discovered, and repaired. I am rarely seeing any pest infestations, but I inspect far fewer of those older homes. Two biggest cost items I routinely find are the homes that need a new roof, and those with failing composition siding.
Steve,
I think having an inspector with both license is a plus for the Home owner. I feel that doing both as standard practice gives the buyer and seller a much better service. I know in some parts of the country you best have a pest clearance before you sell a home. A Termite Protection Policy is just as important as your homeowner's policy in those southern states.
Don
In my experience carpenter ants, and moisture ants are equal opportunity insects making little distinction between old and new homes. I see lots of Anobiid Beetle damage----mostly in older housing stock----but there is still lots of those homes around. Plenty of dampwood termites as well. I certainly see enough of all of these critters that I would not want to burden my buyers with yet another inspection/delay. I have also had several call since licensing where I would not have gotten the inspection if I was not both.
Mr Charles,
I would agree with you on that. Pests are such problematic.
Nutsy