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Termite Inspection
By
All Guard Pest Control
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Why people bother with termite inspections?
I believe that there are a number of reasons why people undertake a termite inspection, such as:
- They have found active termites and want to get rid of them
- They are buying a house and want to make sure that it is sound and not a high risk of infestation
- They are SELLING a house and don't want a bad report
- They live in an area which has a high risk of termites or has a history of attack
- The neighbours have been infested and they don't want the same thing happening to them
- Their home has had previous termite damage
- The newspapers have just run a story on the merits of regular inspections, or another "horror story" was aired on TV.
All of the above reasons are valid ones. Just living in most areas of Sydney, Australia poses a threat, as one house in three will eventually get termites.
Choosing a Termite Inspector
Always take your time choosing an accredited inspector to inspect your home thoroughly for signs of attack. The person you choose should NOT just have a Pest Control Licence!
The Statement of Attainment in NSW Urban Pest Control (Licensing) is valid only for these modules:
- PRMPM05B Modify environment to manage pests (60 hours)
- PRMPM06B Apply pesticide to manage pests (90 hours)
- PRMPM18B Maintain an equipment and chemical storage area (30 hours)
The special accreditation that they must have in order to inspect your home effectively is the attainment of Units 8 & 10. This accreditation covers reports and termite management.
Australian Standard 4349.3 is a nationally accepted standard for timber pest inspections and reports. It includes roof and floor timbers, outbuildings and fencing.
Getting the Best Deal From The Timber Pest Inspector
Don't hunt around for the best price. Ask several operators for quotes for an inspection, and then compare the quotes with the level of experience. I wouldn't recommend that you chose an inspector that has less than 5 years experience with timber pests and their control. A thorough inspection of an average sized home should take at least one hour, depending on the construction.
Houses that have low subfloor crawl space will take longer than homes built on concrete slabs. The inspector must be allowed full access to the premises. If anyone restricts the inspection in any way, or there are any areas that are inaccessible at the time of inspection, then a thorough report will note these facts.
Should damage or activity be discovered at the time of inspection, you should be given a range of options of treatment or preventative treatment. If these options aren't given on the report, ask for them. Also ask for cash discounts, but be sure to get a written proposal, stating all treatments to be carried out according to the Australian Standard AS3660.
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