As a homeowner, you have a lot of expenses to pay out for the upkeep of your property. Understandably, you want to save money where possible. One of the things you may consider sacrificing to balance your budget is pest control services. After all, what harm can a few bugs really do? The answer is - a lot more than you might think. Every year termites cost billions of dollars worth of property damage. If a termite infestation is left untreated for long enough, your home will eventually suffer structural damage. Without professional termite treatment in Knoxville, the worst-case scenario is that you could lose your entire home.

Why is Termite Damage a Big Deal?

As mentioned above, termite damage often comes with a high price tag. The average cost of repairing termite damage is around $3000; nationwide, termites do approximately $5 billion of property damage yearly. That is a considerable expense for homeowners, especially considering that many standard home insurance policies do not cover termite damage. Those repair costs are likely to be out of your pocket. Unfortunately, usually by the time you notice termite damage, it has already been going on behind the scenes for some time. That's why it is essential to take preventative steps, including preemptive termite treatment in Knoxville, to help avoid unnoticed infestations taking hold.

Termite Damage Can Devalue Your Home

Another problem linked to termite damage is that it can make selling your home much more difficult if you should ever choose to move. You will likely need to provide a termite inspection before closing the sale of your property. In some cases, as the seller, you may be held responsible for completing the repair work for any existing termite damage. Buyers may be willing to purchase the property 'as is,' but this will usually come with the expectation that you will lower the asking price. If you can provide a termite inspection report and evidence that you have been having regular termite treatment in Knoxville to keep the pests at bay, you may be able to avoid losing value.

The Importance of Annual Termite Inspections

If you want to ensure that you don't face a termite infestation, the best course of action is to have regular termite inspections. It doesn't matter if you live in a historic home or a newly built property. Termites will invade any home. An annual termite inspection will help you to catch termite infestations early and arrange for termite treatment in Knoxville before too much damage is done. Don't be tempted to skim on the cost of this annual inspection. It may save a couple of hundred bucks now, but it could end up costing you thousands of dollars down the road when you eventually uncover extensive termite damage.

How Common Are Termites?

Even armed with the knowledge we have shared here, some homeowners are still reluctant to pay for termite inspections. One of the main reasons is that they are under the impression that it won't happen to them. You could push your luck and put the structural integrity of your home on the line in the hope that termites won't affect you. However, it is a pretty significant risk to take! Tennesse is located in Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) Zone #2. That means there is moderate to heavy termite activity in the state. It is estimated that 1 out of every five homes in Tennessee will experience a termite infestation. Our summers are warm and humid, which helps create the ideal climate for Termites to thrive. Unlike some other states, Tennessee does not really experience a rise and fall of termite activity as the seasons change - they are a problem all year round.

Your Property Could Host More Than One Termite Colony

An interesting fact about termites is that they are not territorial, so colonies are happy to infest the same property as other colonies. Once a termite infestation takes hold, it becomes more likely that another colony will arrive! When a colony reaches maturity, the winged 'swarmers' start to venture out to establish new colonies of their own. They prefer to do this close to the original colony, so a different area of the same structure is an attractive option. That's why termite treatment in Knoxville is so essential. Even if you find evidence of an old termite colony that is no longer active, other colonies could still be active in another part of the property if you haven't had termite treatment. When you book termite treatment in Knoxville, it is essential to have every area of the home treated to eradicate the infestation. You can also arrange preventative pest control services to help prevent them from returning.

--

Otis Termite & Pest Control is a full-service pest control company with a focus on outstanding service. We have been serving the East Tennessee area for over 56 years and our reputation is built on prompt and effective service. We’re good at what we do and we’re fast. We do the job right the first time – and that’s an actual guarantee! 

Call 865.690.1662 or visit www.otispestcontrol.net.