Unfortunately, homeowners insurance almost never covers termite treatment costs or anything to do with termite-related services. Homeowners insurance works to protect you from costs related to property damage, but only damage that was accidental or not preventable. Thankfully, there are still ways to protect yourself from the high costs of termites. Termite bonds are a special type of insurance policy you enter into with a pest control company wherein your home will be inspected and treated for termites regularly.

Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover Termite Treatment?

Because they believe termites to be preventable, insurance agencies almost never recognize termite-related problems in their policies. Termite destruction almost always happens slowly and over time instead of suddenly or accidentally, which is typically the case if your home becomes damaged by a fire or storm. Even though your insurance likely will not cover preventative termite treatments, you should not let that stop you from investing in regular service. The cost of paying for termite treatment to prevent an infestation is far less than the expenses involved in fixing termite damage.

Who Pays for Treatments When Buying or Selling a Home?

If you’re buying a home with a history of termites, you may be wondering who is responsible for paying for treatment. Although it varies, the general process is as follows:

• In almost every state across the country, the seller of the home must pay for termite inspections.
• When termite activity, past or present, is found, the seller is often also responsible for covering treatment either upfront or in closing costs.
• That said, the buyer is most often responsible for anything considered to be termite prevention.

How Do Termite Bonds Protect You?

When your insurance company will not cover the expenses of termite treatment, it may be time to consider the benefits of entering a termite bond. Termite bonds are a form of insurance that work to protect you from the costs of treating infestations. In most termite bonds, the pest control company will pay for any damage caused by termites, as this is a result of their treatments not working. The hope is that with regular treatment and prevention made possible by the termite bond, termite infestations will not become an issue.