It is likely that a home is one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, assets that you will ever buy. Because of this, few things are more horrifying than making a hopeful investment in your future and then finding out that termites have literally taken a giant bite out of that investment.
However, desperate sellers have concealed damage from termites and other insects for years. It is an extremely common gambit for sellers to try. According to Pest Cemetery, one of the most common ways to conceal termite damage is with paint.
How does paint conceal termite damage?
Paint is a very quick and easy way to cover up termite damage, and it is also very affordable. Plus, the most common forms of damage that termites do is very small. It is very easy to cover up termite damage with paint.
This is because one of the most common signs of a termite infestation is mud tubes. Usually these tubes are in the foundation of the home, but they can appear in other areas as well. These tubes are typically no wider than a pencil. This means that a good paint job can often hide the damage from untrained eyes.
Is it illegal to conceal termite damage?
Yes. Failure to disclose termite damage to a property is a crime. According to Bob Vila, if you are purchasing a house that the current homeowners treated for termite damage, you should ask the seller to show the receipts proving that the treatment occurred. Keep in mind that skilled inspectors will nearly always find termite damage, so concealing it is often futile.
