So you are buying a house and you are wondering what types of inspections you need to schedule.  There are a lot of choices, and they can be overwhelming.  Let’s list just a few: general home inspections, do you hire an engineer or TREC inspector, plumbing, HVAC, indoor air quality, hazardous materials, water entry, siding, pool, and the list can go on.

While it is a given that you should hire a professional engineering contractor as your best value, it is a good idea to also get is a wood-destroying insect inspection from a reputable and licensed pest control contractor.  Why should you always include a pest control inspection?  Because along with foundation problems, damage by insects, such as subterranean termites or dry wood termites, are one of the most expensive problems you can have, and a good quality pest control inspection can help to uncover such damage.  It is also a good time to get treatment if you need it because often the seller will cover the cost.

Wood-destroying insect inspections are performed by stated licensed inspectors who are highly regulated by the state, which dictates what forms the inspector must use and the scope of the inspection; however, there are still differences in the quality of service you can receive.  Although price is not necessarily a determination of quality, typically, a quality service will not be the cheapest contractor in town.  You should be carful of shopping for the cheapest inspection.  Cheap prices normally equate to minimal time inspecting, which is also the reason that an “all-in-one” inspection where this service is offered by a TREC inspector is not always the best deal.  Typically, better contractors focus on this task and will spend more time on site looking for insects and indicators.  They spend more time knowing where to look, what to look at, and how to understand what they find.  Experience is a significant consideration in this field.  In my experience I have found a number of contractors are there and gone before I even realize they have been there, and in those cases, I sometimes find concerns they overlook, requiring they return.  Keep in mind that you should develop a relationship with a pest control contractor, and this is a good time to start.  Bugs are a fact of life in our climate and you want to find a quality contractor you can trust to provide seasonal services for your new home over its life.

Another consideration is when to schedule your inspection.  Often engineers performing property condition inspection and pest control inspectors work together to provide you with the best quality.  Additionally, wood-destroying insect inspectors have a narrowly defined scope and do not cover aspects of the inspection or evaluations that are considered by other inspectors, such as an engineer.  Most pest control inspectors cannot comment on structure and engineers cannot comment on the existence wood destroying insects directly.  I recommend that you get your condition of property inspection and your pest control inspection scheduled at the same time.  The companies I enjoy working with often bring to my attention conditions or pests which can indicate other problems, such as water entry or insects which might indicate water entry, which either brings the condition to my attention or confirms information I may already have.  I am often able to bring conditions which might result in wood destroying insects to their condition or to provide information on the specific or possible significance damage depending upon visibility.  This integration can result in significant insight into site conditions and it is best when the two contractors can work together.  There is always truth that the more eyes the better as well.  This also allows your inspector to comment on damage, deterioration, or conditions that are not within the scope of your pest control inspector.

You may want to consider additional inspections based upon information collected during a condition of property evaluation; however, when considering the purchase of a property your engineering inspection contractor and a quality pest control contractor provide a good starting point performing your due diligence to determine the general condition of a property.