If you are buying a house, it is important to understand the damage that termites can cause. Your dream home can become a nightmare if wood-destroying insects are discovered on the
property. If you find them after you have already purchased your home, you could find yourself facing significant costs due to structural damage caused by the termites as well as the need for extermination. As a result, a favorable termite inspection is a common contingency in Maryland home purchase contracts.
Many lenders insist on an inspection and proof of treatment of any infestation before providing a home loan as well. In addition, the Maryland Residential Real Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Statement requires sellers to disclose termite infestations. Even if a home is sold “as is”, sellers must disclose latent defects they are aware of, like termite infestations, that are not immediately visible. If your lender does not require a termite inspection, you can require one in your purchase contract.
Pursuing Legal Claims for Maryland Termite Damage
A termite inspection can be sufficient to reveal damage that was concealed by a deceptive seller or realtor. However, a termite damage contractor will need to be brought in to assess the extent of the work that will be required. In some cases, however, even mandating a termite inspection as part of your home contract will not be enough to avoid extensive termite damage repairs if the inspectors are negligent.
The experienced attorneys at Whitney, LLP can help homeowners throughout Maryland to pursue financial compensation for the costs of termite damage, including repair bills, extermination costs and emotional distress, with no out-of-pocket expenses or fees. We have secured significant settlements for clients harmed by hidden termite damage. In one 2019 case, we obtained a $1,068,000 jury verdict for the damage caused by a fraudulent and negligent inspection company.
Barry Simms of WBAL covered another one of our client’s cases in an investigative report about hidden termite infestations in Maryland homes. Our skilled termite lawyers pursue negligent pest control companies and termite inspectors, fraudulent home sellers, deceptive realtors and home flippers for the damage caused by the termites they conceal, ignore or leave behind in the home.
Getting a Termite Inspection for Your Maryland Home Purchase
In most cases, the buyer pays the costs for hiring a termite inspector to examine a Maryland home for the presence of these insects. The seller may be responsible for covering repairs and termite treatment for up to 2% of the price of the home. Beyond that point, the contract may be canceled, or the buyer could choose to take on the additional expenses.
If you include a favorable termite inspection as a contingency in your purchase agreement, you can decline to buy the home if a poor result is delivered. Some termite inspectors are negligent or fraudulent, however, and they will not disclose or discover the extent of damage to the home. At Whitney, LLP, we have recovered verdicts against and have obtained settlements from inspectors who have performed their jobs carelessly or dishonestly, leading to substantial undisclosed damage.
Maryland Termite Lawyer for Claims and Lawsuits
If you purchased a home after a realtor or seller concealed a termite infestation, or if you based your decision to buy it on an inspection that was negligently performed, you can pursue compensation for your eradication and termite damage repair costs.
The experienced Maryland termite attorneys at Whitney, LLP can investigate your situation, determine who is responsible for the damage to your home and your termite damage contractor costs, and seek the recovery of those costs. Call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000 or use our online contact form to request your legal consultation today.