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Homeowners are usually reluctant to admit to
potential buyer that their homes are damaged by
termites. For some people, the mere mention of
the words "termite damage" conjures
up images of tiny insects with very big teeth
dining on weight-bearing wood beams until a home
collapses in a heap of sawdust. Thankfully this
is not usual the case.
WHAT IS A W.I.R.?
Wood Infestation Report
As a protective measure, banks and lending institutions
require that homes be inspected for damage from
termites or other wood-destroying insects before
closing the sale of a home. A Wood Infestation
Report (WIR) is a document prepared by Arizona
Pest Control company that informs the lending
institution and buyer of the result of the inspection.
WIR's are two-page documents. The first page
provides basic information about the inspection
such as the address of the property, and which
general questions are answered: Are there any
obstructions or areas inaccessible in inspect?
Is there any visible evidence of infestation or
previous treatment? Will the inspection company
or another company correct the damage? A section
entitled "statement of pest control operator"
describes the terms and conditions of the inspections.
A WIR IS NOT A GUARANTEE
OF THE ABSENCE OF WOOD-DESTROYING ORGANISMS.
An inspection is an important tool in evaluating
whether or not wood destroying organisms are present
and visible, but there are limitations. After
all, an inspector can't pick up a house and look
under it, or take it apart and it back together.
WHAT ARE WIR'S GOOD
FOR ANYWAY?!
So what good is a WIR, if it can't guarantee that
a house is free from termites? Well, aside from
identifying obvious infestations and previous
treatment, WIR'S highlight potential problem areas.
Here are some things that buyers should look for:
1. Cracks in
foundation walls. It only takes a crack 1/64 of
an inch wide to give termites an other wood- destroying
insects hidden access to a house.
2. Leaking pipes
and faucets. Termites as well as other insects,
seek out moisture for survival. Leading pipes
can keep wood and soil continually damp and create
a perfect home for termites.
3. Wood debris
around and under a house. Pieces of scrap lumber
or firewood kept next to a structure can support
a colony of termites.
4. Sprinkler
systems or bubblers placed near the outside wall
of a structure. Excessive watering can dilute
pesticide treatment around foundation walls.
5. Flower planters.
Planters allow hidden and direct access to unprotected
siding and cracked stucco when built in direct
contact with a house.
6. Trellises
and wooden fences. If a trellis or wood fence
touches soil and is in contact with a structure,
it provides a direct link between the subterranean
termites in he soil and wood in the structure.
WIR'S provide valuable information for the sale
of a home, and document its present condition
for future reference. Unfortunately, there is
no state law that requires a WIR for the sale
of a structure; it is a requirement of the lending
institution. State law does dictate that the WIR's
meet certain minimum standards.
By law, all pest control applicators, inspectors
and companies must be licensed by the Structural
Pest Control Commission. The general public may
call the Commission to find out if any applicator/inspector
or company is properly licensed. In addition,
the Commission maintains a database on the WIR's
and post construction termite treatments performed
on homes in Arizona since 1988.
(This information was taken from the brochure
entitled, "What you should know about wood
infestation reports.) |
