Expert: Dick Dennis - 5/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: I just read your answer about a woman being sued for termite issues.  I recently discovered that what I thought were ants are termites.  They swarmed the first spring I lived in my house.  The inspection report we were given said there were no termites.  There were hundreds of them so I doubt this was a new problem.  I have been battling what I thought was ants (since the termite inspection was clean) for 9 years and fear the entire house is infested.  Can I hold the woman who sold me responsible at this time?  Thanks.

ANSWER: How would you feel, Jess, if after 9 years after selling your house the buyer decided to sue you? Would you think that it really was your fault because the new owner just didn't maintain her property? Every spring the ants come out to annoy us humans (no, they are not termites.) Termites chew on wood and cellulose. Ants do not. You are simply going to have to hire a pest control company to spray around your house periodically, especially prior to springtime. You as the owner of the property must maintain your property . . . and spraying for pests, bugs and termites is part of maintaining your property. The termites and other bugs come out each year if you let them. If you bought your house in the summer, fall or winter, that is when bugs become dormant and, of course, you are going to get an inspection report that says the property is clear of pests. Just ask your favorite pest-control inspector. I wish you well.

Dick Dennis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Look, I didn't ask the question to be insulted.  The house was obviously infested when I bought it.  I have never used an exterminator because I have chemical sensitivities and I thought they were ants.  Ants are annoying but I can live with them.  My living room floor was covered with termite swarmers two months after I bought the house.  That was not failure on my part to maintain the property.  I thought they were winged ants because of the inspection report.  Inspectors have a responsibility to tell buyers the report may be inaccurate due to dormant seasons.  Sellers should have a responsibility to disclose information--there is no way they swarmed for the first time two months after I bought the house.  The seller lied.  Yes, it's nine years later, but the problem was not due to me failing to maintain my property.  I don't believe insurance covers things like this so that leaves me to clean up the seller's lie.  You shouldn't answer questions if you are going to insult the person who asked.  Are you saying that if I repair the damage I've seen that it's okay for me to hide this if I sell the house--because that is exactly what the former owner did to me.

Answer
It's too bad you misread my reply, Madam. (Now that you have set the tone of my reply) You were nine years too late with your complaint . . . to the wrong person! You should have complained to the people who would do you some good . . . nine years ago. How you expect satisfaction nine years later is beyond me. No court in the land would be on your side. It's not how soon you experienced pests, but when you made (if you made it at all) a complaint. You have a responsibility in owning a house, Madam. Take that responsibility and move on with your life and stop blaming others for your problems.

Dick Dennis