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Does Your New House Have Termites? Here's What to Do

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Moving home can be very stressful, and it's natural that not everything will go according to plan. It's often impossible to spot every potential problem with a property before moving in - and that includes a termite infestation.

If you suspect that your new home is infested, stay calm. Before you put the house straight back up for sale and move into a hotel for a week, try following the advice below. Although tricky, termite infestations can be controlled, and with the right action your new property will soon be termite free, ready for you and your family to enjoy.

The first step to dealing with termites is making completely sure that they're what you're dealing with. Termites can sometimes be confused with flying ants, as both tend to be around during springtime. Termites have distinctive straight antennae and all of their wings are the same size, while flying ants have bent antennae and differently sized wings. If you can get a close look at one of the pests, you should easily be able to tell the difference.

Rotted wood is another key sign that you're dealing with termites. Logs and tree stumps outside may attract the creatures, as they feed on the rotten wood. The real concern comes when you spot termites closer to your home—this could be around a wooden patio area, or close to wooden window and door frames. You should also look out for small tubes of mud around your home, close to the foundations. These are key indicators of an active infestation.

Once you're fairly sure that what you're dealing with is a termite infestation, you'll need to get in touch with a local pest control company, such as Expect the Best Pty Ltd. As termites can burrow deep into the foundations and structure of a building, it's important that they're taken care of by someone with a good knowledge of both architecture and pests.

Depending on what will be most effective in your situation, a pest control professional may use bait to draw termites away from the property and reduce their numbers, or a liquid pesticide to create a chemical barrier which will kill or repel the pests. Termites can be successfully eradicated on the first treatment, but if they do return then most companies will carry out an additional treatment free of charge.

When purchasing a new home in the future, it's advisable to include a White Ant Certificate clause in your contract. Recommended by Consumer Protection, this clause safeguards you against purchasing a property that is currently infested with termites, or damaged by a previous infestation.


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