When you’re in the market for a new home, you’ll be paying close attention to the condition and state of repair of all the houses you view. Before signing on the dotted line, plan to have a home inspector give you a full report so that you can make an offer that reflects the property’s true condition. Of course, you can’t hire a property inspector for each property you visit, so you’ll have to equip yourself to make some preliminary assessments.

TLC Home Inspections has put together a list of signs to watch out for that might indicate a termite infestation.

Signs of a Possible Termite Infestation

Softwood. Tap on wood with a screwdriver handle or other hard tool. If it sounds hollow, seems soft, or disintegrates, this is a sign that termites may be feeding on it.

Mud tubes. Look for mud tubes on floors, floor joists, walls, and foundation walls. These are transportation tunnels for termites.

Swarmers. Winged adult termites are called swarmers. If there are signs of swarmers inside the house, there is probably a mature colony nearby.

What To Do If You Suspect the Presence of Pests in a Home

If you suspect that pests are present and you are still interested in a property, we recommend having a pest inspection or termite inspection done in addition to a standard home inspection. The presence of pests doesn’t necessarily make a house a write-off, but it does mean that the problem will have to be addressed quickly, either by the seller or the buyer, and the offer to purchase would likely reflect that.

Contact TLC today at (512) 515-3686, or use our online scheduler to set up a termite inspection or another property inspection service. Our professional team is trained, licensed, and insured to conduct home inspections throughout Austin and the surrounding areas of central Texas, including Georgetown, Round Rock, and Marble Falls.