There are measures in place that should prevent home buyers from getting a large bill for wood-destroying insect (“WDI”) damage after they have bought a Maryland home. You have likely relied on the services of an inspector to check for such damage before signing your purchase contract. The WDI inspector is supposed to protect you as the home buyer, but unfortunately, they do not always do their job well and sometimes perform incomplete and negligent inspections.
Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers help home buyers bring claims and file lawsuits involving negligent WDI inspections, against dishonest and negligent home sellers, house flippers, real estate agents and termite inspection companies across Maryland. Our attorneys recover compensation for buyers to repair hidden damage and defects, and for emotional distress. We offer Legal Consultations. .
If you need a real estate lawyer near me to help with hidden damage, failure to disclose defects, negligence or fraud in the purchase of a house, Call Us at 410 583 8000 or use our Online Quick Contact Form.
Click Here to read reviews from our past clients, and Click Here to read about some of our past settlements and a jury verdict where we represented home buyers.
Wood Damage the WDI Inspector Should Find
The WDI inspection should be comprehensive enough to spot and reveal all reasonably detectable signs of termites and wood damage. It is meant to protect you as the buyer before you pay for your home to ensure its future safety. The last thing that you want is to buy your home and discover thousands of dollars’ worth of termite damage.
A termite inspection involves a licensed technician showing up at the home to take a comprehensive look at the structure. Specifically, they are examining the interior and exterior of the property for signs of termites and other wood-eating bugs. The inspector will look at all the areas that are available. They will then provide you with a report on what they find.
The inspector will look for signs of an ongoing infestation as well as for signs of previous damage. Not only are they looking for visible signs but also any other evidence that there is or has been a problem.
Common Elements of a WDI Inspection
The WDI inspector is looking for the following during their evaluation:
- Live termites or other WDI
- Dead insects
- Tubes that shelter insects and their exit holes
- Damage to the home and structure from WDI
It is crucial that the inspector is as comprehensive as possible when looking at the home. Termite damage takes time to materialize, and it worsens over time.
WDI Inspectors Must Use Reasonable Professional Care
If an inspector misses the early signs of termite or wood damage, it can cause homeowners serious problems in the future. Unfortunately, this has been known to happen. Not every WDI inspector is properly trained or takes the time to do their job properly. There are many inexperienced, untrained and careless inspectors who are negligent in their inspections.
Termite inspectors must use the proper level of care when inspecting a home. If they fail to do their job correctly, they can face legal consequences for repair costs in a lawsuit filed by a real estate attorney. Prospective homeowners are relying on them to do their due diligence and can pursue legal remedies if the inspectors do not live up to their duty. You can file a lawsuit for damages if the WDI inspector’s shoddy work leaves you with a bill to repair WDI damage they should have seen.
Maryland Real Estate Lawyers For WDI Damage
If a professional in the home-buying process failed to perform their job and you discovered wood damage after moving into your new home, you could pursue a lawsuit to recover compensation with the help of Whitney, LLP’s WDI inspection real estate attorneys.
If you were the victim of a dishonest seller, real estate agent or WDI/termite inspection company in Maryland, contact Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers at 410 583 8000, or use our Online Quick Contact Form, for your Legal Consultation.
We represent homebuyers throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Frederick, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Towson, Bowie, Aspen Hill and Wheaton.