Pest/Termite Inspection - Worth It?

Morphio25 on 06/04/2024 - 10:58

We built a brand new home in 2021. Our builder provides a 25-year structural guarantee and the slab has a TermiMesh barrier. The builder advised that by having yearly inspections done through a pest control company, Complete Pest Control, that provides a guarantee over and above their guarantee and extends it out to 50-years.

These inspections are costing just under $300 a year and we've not had any issues thus far.

We're in the back of an established estate and the closest building, when it eventually happens, will be a good 500-600m or so from us. At the end of our street is a reserve and then the Onkaparinga recreation park sits behind that.

When the inspector comes he can't get to many of walls in the house because of fixtures and furniture we have (think couches, beds, bookcases etc) which has got me thinking whether these inspections are worth my time and money?

Thoughts?

Poll Options

  • 6
    Yes
  • 27
    No
  • 3
    It's only $300, who cares!
Home & Garden

Comments

  • c64 on 06/04/2024 - 11:16

    $300 would cover the cost of an annual bunga bunga party. just saying …

  • Euphemistic on 06/04/2024 - 11:34
    +1

    Reguslr inspections arent a bad idea. But making it annual just to maintain a "warranty" seems overkill

  • GordonD on 06/04/2024 - 11:36
    +1

    For you, for a house built in 2021, maybe not.

    For me, with trees around my house, I should have gotten one, at least occasionally.

    • bazingaa on 06/04/2024 - 12:26
      -1

      with trees around my house

      during pre purchase pest inspection, inspector mentioned that trees are too closer, so I cut them all lol

  • AdosHouse on 06/04/2024 - 11:44

    Are you still going to own the house by 2046?

    • Morphio25 on 06/04/2024 - 12:04

      That's the plan, yes.

  • JIMB0 on 06/04/2024 - 12:35
    +3

    It's unlikely the builder will be around in 5 years, let alone 25 to 50 years.

    • freefall101 on 06/04/2024 - 14:34

      Even with builders dropping like flies, it'd be worth looking at the contract to see whether the agreement is with a building company or "<insert address here> Corp", a company that was spun up and folded once the construction was finished (and also forgot to pay the ATO any GST collected).

    • Morphio25 on 07/04/2024 - 13:27

      It's Hickinbotham. I'd say if any of the current big boys will last that long they'd be one of them.

  • Benoffie on 06/04/2024 - 12:53

    Total con. If you have a concrete slab (which you would, being in Adelaide), the chances of anything happening are low. Keep a good path around your house, keep leaf litter out of the gutter with a guard and just watch for signs. Your place is 99.99% to be brick veneer and so any damage (if it should ever occur) is easily remedied.

    I'm in the eastern suburbs and the place I'm fixing up (built in the 50's) previously had termites. The house sits between 2 creeks. The con job they did on the little old lady to treat it! They had her drilling through the terrazzo! Have you ever heard of a termite eating concrete?

    Anyway, the damage was maybe 5 lengths of floorboards and we cut out the crp in the joists. But considering they're gum, well, whatever. House is perfectly fine.

    Now, if you said your place was in St Peters…

  • AndyC1 on 06/04/2024 - 14:13

    Read the conditions that the pest firm gives and it will say something like "Only visual inspections are done and only on areas that are visibile and as such not all pest or issues may be detected." and in the fine print there will be something like "all care no responsibility and you agree not to sue us if pests or issues are found at a later date".

    So in other words the pest report is only as good as the person doing it and the equipment they use. I have seen some who just look and I have seen some who have equipment to detect termite noise in the walls. I have also seen some who do not go into the roof cavity or into the under floor areas where as other pest inspectors do.

  • netjock on 06/04/2024 - 15:47

    I wonder if you have to pay $300pa and time to wait for inspectors whether it would have been cheaper to just get the house built with a metal frame.

    • Morphio25 on 07/04/2024 - 13:21

      Our builder doesn't do metal frames. My first home was but that was because the builder of that one didn't do timber.

      I decided having timber or metal didn't really matter because after 20 years living in a timber frame uncle my uncle decided to do some remodeling that I helped him with. The frame was squeaky clean, no signs of pests at all.

      • netjock on 08/04/2024 - 10:55

        I decided having timber or metal didn't really matter because after 20 years living in a timber frame uncle my uncle decided to do some remodeling that I helped him with. The frame was squeaky clean, no signs of pests at all.

        So the question for you then why do you need inspections on your property?

        Are you in a termite area or your neighbors have it?

        • Morphio25 on 08/04/2024 - 11:06

          I just fell into the trap of agreeing to the inspection when the company called after we'd lived there for a year and I've simply continued with it since.

  • Sye on 06/04/2024 - 17:47

    According to Squatting Laws the termites can claim possession of the property once they have lived there for 15 years. So make sure to kick them out before then.

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