Subject: [Homestead] Termite inspections, was Check out the neighbors!
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:39:18 -0500
"Inspection" and "remediation" are two completely
separate functions and should be done by different
people. Anything else is a clear conflict of interest
and should be as illegal as it is unethical.
All true in the ideal world. In the real world no company could stay
in business only doing inspections and charging fifty dollars or less
per inspection. Realtors generally choose the many people involved in
a transaction and those people know it, so if they are smart they
give good service. News of bad service spreads like wildfire in the
real estate community.
For peace of mind and to protect their largest investment, many
homeowners today have contracts with companies that do yearly
treatments and inspections. When the house sells the company knows
there is no problem because of the treatment history and so issuing a
clear report is easy. Naturally they hope the new owners will
continue the service. There are other items that such companies must
inspect for, though, such as rot, which may not have destructive
organisms in them, but are highly conducive to same.