Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
Get one. A WDI inspection is the cheapest protection a buyer in Portsmouth, New Hampshire can purchase. It documents visible evidence of termites and conducive conditions. If the report shows activity, you can negotiate treatment or repairs with the Portsmouth seller before you close.
Will termites come back after treatment?
A good treatment in Portsmouth keeps termites out for years, not forever. Widely published figures put liquid barriers at five years or more. Yearly monitoring is cheap insurance for a Portsmouth home compared with a second full treatment.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
Slab construction in Portsmouth hides termite entry very well. With no crawl space to inspect, the first sign in a Portsmouth home may be damaged trim or a swarm indoors. Bait stations around a Portsmouth slab home are a popular option because they avoid extensive drilling through floors.
What does a WDI report include?
A WDI report for a Portsmouth home lists visible evidence of wood-destroying insects, including termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles. It notes live activity, old damage, past treatments, and conducive conditions. It also lists areas the Portsmouth inspector could not access.
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Modern termiticides applied by a licensed Portsmouth provider are placed in soil, wall voids, or sealed bait stations, not on living surfaces. Follow the label about staying off treated soil until it dries. Fumigation requires everyone, including pets and plants, to leave the Portsmouth home until clearance.
Can I treat termites myself instead of hiring a professional?
Few homeowners want to. Worth knowing before you call anyone in Portsmouth: according to the NPMA/Harris Poll findings released March 24, 2026, only 16% of U.S. homeowners preferred DIY termite control to hiring a professional; the figure reflects stated intentions, not measured purchasing behavior. Local conditions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire can differ from the survey population, so confirm the specifics with an on-site inspection.
Is termite prevention cheaper than repairing termite damage?
Many homeowners are not sure. Another data point for Portsmouth readers: in findings from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Harris Poll released March 24, 2026, fewer than half of U.S. homeowners, 45%, thought prevention was cheaper than termite damage repair; the figure reflects attitudes, not actual spending. If you are in Portsmouth, use this as a starting point for questions rather than a prediction for your home.