The Georgia termite letter, and signs of termites before you buy
If you're buying a house in Augusta, Georgia, you'll probably run into this form. Here's what it is and how to read it.
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What the termite letter is
The formal name is the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report. The state calls it the written instrument for reporting evidence of wood destroying organisms and conditions that encourage them, and the basis for transfer of real property in Georgia.
Only a pest control company licensed in the wood destroying organisms category can issue one, and the report must carry the company's license number and the inspector's full name.
What's in it
The report has to disclose any active or previous infestation of subterranean termites, drywood termites, powder post beetles, wood boring beetles or wood decaying fungi, with a diagram showing where they are.
It has to list areas the inspector couldn't reach, such as a crawl space blocked by insulation or a garage full of built-in storage. It also has to note conducive conditions: wood debris in the crawl space, earth to wood contact and poor crawl space ventilation.
If the company has treated the structure, the treatment date, type and contract expiration date have to be stated, and the report must say whether the contract transfers to a new owner.
How to read it as a buyer
Read the inaccessible areas closely. A clean report on a house with much of the crawl space blocked tells you less than it seems to. Ask for the diagram if there are any findings, and ask whether anything active was found or only old damage.
Damage isn't the same as a live infestation, and UGA says it's common to find abandoned damage where termites once fed. The report isn't a structural inspection either, so talk to a qualified contractor about any repairs.
If you find an incomplete or inaccurate report, the Georgia Department of Agriculture lists that as a reason to request a state inspection.
Sources: Georgia Department of Agriculture and UGA Bulletin 1241.
Signs to check on your own walk-through
Look for mud tubes on foundation walls and piers, wood that's soft or hollow around door and window frames, and shed wings on windowsills. Look for wood touching the soil, gutters that drain against the house, and mulch banked high on the foundation. The termite page has more on what each one means.
Need a termite inspection in Augusta, Georgia?
Call to reach an independent pest control company. If you need the official Georgia report for a sale, say so, and ask if the company is licensed in the wood destroying organisms category.
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