For Georgia homeowners, the answer is, unfortunately, a hard No.
Key Takeaways:
- No, homeowners’ insurance generally doesn’t cover anything related to termites.
- A Termite Bond acts as a private insurance policy; the best bonds cover the cost of repairs if termites return after treatment.
- A “Termite Letter” is officially called the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report—and a required part of many real estate transactions.
- Prevention is a fraction of the cost of repair.
How Does Insurance Work with Termites?
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, like damage 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.
Say Goodbye to Pest Problems for Good!
What’s the Difference Between a Termite Bond and a Termite Letter?
Navigating a real estate transaction in Georgia involves specific protocols regarding termites.
You will often hear agents refer to a “Termite Letter.” This refers to the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report.
This document certifies that a qualified inspector has checked the home for active infestation and previous damage.
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.
Why the Best Termite “Insurance” Is Prevention
The idea of insurance is that you pay a premium each month that protects you in case of disaster. Since “termite insurance” generally isn’t available to homeowners in Georgia, our best advice is to rethink your approach. Put the money you would pay for a monthly premium to state-of-the-art termite prevention with a professional termite control company, instead.
- Average Prevention Cost: A few hundred dollars a year.
- Average Repair Cost: $3,000 to $8,000+ (out of pocket).
Don’t wait for a denied insurance claim to learn this lesson. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary termite inspection for your home. Our experts will create a custom-designed termite prevention strategy for you.