• Find a Home
    • Search by City or Neighborhood
    • South Bay RE News
    • Open Houses
      • Open Houses in El Segundo CA
      • Manhattan Beach Open Houses
      • Redondo Beach Open Houses
      • Torrance Open Houses
      • Hermosa Beach Open Houses
      • Palos Verdes Estates Open Houses
      • Rancho Palos Verdes Open Houses
      • Hawthorne CA Open Houses
    • All Manhattan Beach
      • Hill Section
      • Sand Section
      • Tree Section
      • Manhattan Village
      • East Manhattan Beach
      • East Manhattan – S of MB Blvd
      • Liberty Village
    • All Redondo Beach
      • North Redondo Beach
      • South Redondo Beach
      • The Village and Seascape
    • Hermosa Beach
    • El Segundo
    • Torrance
    • Palos Verdes
      • Palos Verdes Estates
      • Rancho Palos Verdes
      • Rolling Hills
      • Rolling Hills Estates
    • Hollywood Riviera
    • Hawthorne
      • Hollyglen and Del Aire
        • Three Sixty South Bay
        • Fusion South Bay Townhomes – Gated Community in Hawthorne
    • 55+ Senior Communities
    • Oceanfront Homes
    • Lawndale
    • Gardena
    • Marina Del Rey
    • Westchester
  • FREE Listing Updates
    • Entire South Bay
    • Manhattan Beach
    • Redondo Beach
    • Hawthorne, Hollyglen, 360 and Fusion
    • Torrance
    • Plaza Del Amo
  • Buyers
    • Search South Bay Homes
    • Search for homes
    • Buyer & Seller FAQs
      • Home Buyer and Seller Basics
      • Tips and FAQs
      • First Time Buyer Info
  • Sellers
    • Your Home’s Value
    • Recent South Bay Sales
    • Our Listing Presentation
    • What’s A CMA?
    • Listing and Selling
    • How We Market Homes
    • How We Sell Homes
    • Client Testimonials
  • Neighborhoods
    • Search by Neighborhood
    • Schools
      • El Segundo Schools
      • Hermosa Beach Schools
      • Redondo Beach Schools
      • Wiseburn School District
      • Torrance Schools – Information on the Torrnance USD
      • Manhattan Beach Schools
        • Manhattan School Boundary Map
        • Homes in Meadows area
        • Homes in Pennekamp area
        • Homes in Pacific area
        • Homes in Robinson area
        • Homes in Grandview area
      • Palos Verdes School District
      • Hawthorne Elementary School District
      • Lawndale School District
        • Lawndale School Boundary Map
    • El Segundo
    • Hawthorne
    • Hermosa Beach
    • Lawndale
    • Manhattan Beach
      • Sand Section
      • Manhattan Village
      • Tree Section
      • Hill Section
      • East Manhattan
    • Palos Verdes
      • Real Estate Map
    • Redondo Beach
      • North Redondo Beach
        • The Golden Hills
      • South Redondo Beach
        • Village Oceanview Condos
        • Brookside Village
        • The Esplanade
        • The Avenues
      • Hollywood Riviera
    • Torrrance
      • North Torrance
      • Walteria and Victoria Knolls
      • Central Torrance & Plaza Del Amo
      • Harbor Gateway & County Strip
      • Plaza Del Amo
      • Southwood
      • West Torrance
      • Gated Communities Plaza Del Amo
      • South Torrance
    • Three Sixty South Bay – Gated Resort Style Living
    • Fusion South Bay Townhomes – Gated Community in Hawthorne
    • Foreclosures and Short Sales
    • Hollyglen and Del Aire
    • Harbor City
    • Lomita
  • About
    • Real Estate Trends and Statistics
    • Median Home Prices
    • Recent Home Sales
    • Client Testimonials
    • South Bay Realtor Keith Kyle
    • Vista Sotheby’s
    • Tax Information
      • Capital Gains Tax
      • 1031 Exchange
      • Property Tax FAQs
      • Props 60 and 90
      • Ways of Owning
      • Homeowner’s Exemption
  • Real Estate Blog
  • Home

Real estate and homes for sale in the South Bay

Keith Kyle Realtor - Vista Sotheby's International Realty

You are here: Home / Helpful Home Buyer Tips and Questions / First Time Home Buyer Tips, Information and Advice / Understanding Termite Inspections

Understanding Termite Inspections

What to Know about Termite Inspections and Termite ReportsOceanfront homes of Paseo De La Playa in the Hollywood Riviera

The way termite inspections and repairs happens in escrow has changed quite a bit in the past few years.  Several years ago the issue of termite inspection and rapairs were mentioned directly in the original offer as well as who paid for the inspection and report.  That has changed and it is no longer mentioned on the offer.  It has become a standard “inspection” during the inspection process and it’s up to the buyer whether they want it done (usually at their cost) and any work/repairs becomes a negotiable item like any other repair request.  This had long been the way it was done in other parts of California so now it’s a more uniform procedure.

*One common misconception occurs when termites “swarm” and are flying all over.  I’ve had many clients call in a panic that they’re being invaded and they had thought termite work had been completed.  Unfortunately in hot and humid conditions termites hatch and their population explodes…this isn’t coming from the house but basically from everywhere.  This doesn’t mean the house is infested…they just happen to be everywhere unfortunately.

The termite report  is actually known as the wood destroying pests and organisms report that has a format dictated by state law.

It includes:

  • Wood damaging insects – infestations such as termites, wood eating beetles and wood destroying ants and bees.
  • Wood destroying fungi
  • Conditionsthat cause or might cause wood destroying organisms
  • Damage caused by wood destroying organisms

The inspector will inspect as many areas of the home as possible including the attic and crawlspace (if the home is on raised foundation) to determine if there is any wood damage.  Although unknown to most buyers they also inspect (again if possible) under the show pans underneath the homes as the water can often cause damage.  As termites are very common in our area they will often find evidence of termites or wood damage.  Sometimes it’s obvious (holes and hollow wood) and sometimes it’s the “droppings” that they’ll base their findings on.  The report will have two areas:  Section 1 recommendations and Section 2 recommendation as well as an estimated cost.

  • Section 1  – Conditions found that involve infestations and/or infections, damage caused by infestations or infections and/or conditions that have resulted in infestations and/or infections.
  • Section 2 – Conditions found that might lead to infestations or infections but have not yet materialized.

Further Inspection- these recommendations involve areas of a structure that are usually subject to attack by wood destroying organisms but where correctable conditions (locked doors for example) are preventing access. This category may also include areas where evidence indicates wood destroying organisms may exist but confirmation would require opening walls, ceilings or other enclosed spaces.

COMMON FINDINGS IN A REPORT

Drywood Termites – a termite colonly that lives in the wood itself (no connection with the ground). These are only found in mild/warm climates. They enter a structure by flying in from other infested wood. Colonies develop slowly (five or more years from entry)but once established are very difficult to spot treat. Mature colonies produce swarms of male and female reproductive flying termites on hot days in late summer through early fall.

Subterranean Termites – a termite colony that lives in the ground and come up to search for wood as a food supply. They enter a structure
by finding an earth to wood contact, building shelter tubes up foundations or finding their way through cracks of seams in slab floors or foundations. Mature colonies produce swarms of male and female reproductive flying termites whenever bright sun follows rain.

Swarmers – These are alates. These are flying male and female reproductive termites. They are produced in great numbers by mature,well
established and usually large colonies. Their purpose is to find a suitable place to burrow in, lay eggs and establish a new colony.

Wood Destroying Fungus – Dryrot- fungi are similar to plants except they do not need sunlight and their seeds are usually microscopic
and airborne (known as spores). Some of these fungi are wood destroying. Wherever conditions are right (climate,moisture,wood and air)
these fungi will grow and damage wood in structures, which is known as dryrot.

Completion Notice

This is actually a report of Work Completed and Not Completed and is linked to a specific termite report. It includes:

  • Work completed, work not completed and secondary substandarditems completed
  • Price of work completed

Clearances

The word “clearance” has no official meaning in a termite report but is commonly used when referring to a certification.  There are three official certifications that can be used on an inspection report and completion notice. They are found in the California State Business and Professions Code under the Structural Pest Control Act.

They are used to certify that:

  1. A propertyhas no wood destroying organisms, damage or conditions that have lead to wood destoying organisms (used on an inspection report with no Section I recommendations).
  2. A propertyno longer has infestations or infections from any of the conditions mentioned above (used after Section I work is completed).
  3. A propertyhas had some of the conditions mentioned above (SectionI) corrected but others still remain,(this is considered a limited or partial certification).

TYPES OF REPORTS

  • Complete Report- a report of a Secondary Measures complete inspection as described by state law
  • Limited Report- a report where an owner or agent has requested some areas ofthe structure not to be included
  • Supplemental Report- an amendment or addition to an existing inspection report
  • Reinspection Report- to verify if another party has completed a recommendation

Secondary Measures

Once the termite inspectior has made a primary recommendation they can list other options but only if the owner or agent has requested it.  These recommendations are referred to as secondary measures. They are usually considered substandard and are seldom guaranteed.

 

Own Your Piece of the South Bay Lifestyle

https://youtu.be/SJcrcHl9U5Y

Recent Manhattan Listings

See all Manhattan Beach Homes for Sale

Recent Redondo Listings

See all Redondo Beach Homes for Sale

Your South Bay Realtor

Keith Kyle

Realtor, Top Producing Agent Since 2007

Top 1.5% of Realtors Nationwide 2021

310.251.2344 (cell/text) Keith@KeithKyleHomes.com DRE# 01718725

South Bay Real Estate

Search Our Site

Keith Kyle Homes logo
 
Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Beach
North Redondo
South Redondo
El Segundo
Torrance
Palos Verdes Estates
Rancho Palos Verdes
Hollywood Riviera
Hollyglen
Lawndale
Hawthorne
Gardena
Manhattan Village
Rolling Hills Estates
MB Sand Section
MB Tree Section
MB Hill Section
East Manhattan
Oceanfront Homes
The multiple listing data appearing on this website, or contained in reports produced therefrom, is owned and copyrighted by California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. ("CRMLS") and is protected by all applicable copyright laws. All listing data, including but not limited to square footage and lot size is believed to be accurate, but the listing Agent, listing Broker and CRMLS and its affiliates do not warrant or guarantee such accuracy. The viewer should independently verify the listed data prior to making any decisions based on such information by personal inspection and/or contacting a real estate professional. The information being provided by CRMLS & CARETS is for the visitor's personal, noncommercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties visitor may be interested in purchasing. The data contained herein is copyrighted by CARETS, CLAW, CRISNet MLS, i-Tech MLS, PSRMLS and/or VCRDS and is protected by all applicable copyright laws. Any dissemination of this information is in violation of copyright laws and is strictly prohibited. Any property information referenced on this website comes from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of CRISNet MLS and/or CARETS. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

 

Please see our pledge to web accessibility

  • El Segundo
  • Hermosa Beach
  • Three Sixty
  • Manhattan Beach
  • PVE
  • RPV
  • Redondo Beach
  • Torrance
  • Fusion