Termites - follow-up to prev post...

We purchased a home and closed last September which had old termite damage in the garage which was "supposedly" treated and the termites were "gone."

We got some kind of certificate at the closing stating that the house was free and clear at the time of the closing/inspection.

Well as soon as it got warm the buggers showed themselves and we have a TERMITE problem - BIG TIME. We have already hired TERMINIX to bait the entire property and remedy the issue.

Do we have ANY recourse against the seller/engineer?

I read something in a previous post about the house being free and clear for 1 year - we haven't reached the 1 year mark yet (that will be Sept '07) so I'd love to know if we can recoup any of these ridiculous costs we are now incurring.

Does anyone else feel like they bought a MONEY PIT?!?

Re: Termites - follow-up to prev post...

if it hasn't been a year yet, i would definitely say you have some recourse.... i would call the lawyer that handled your closing, and see what he says.... not sure if it should be the previous owner or the engineer who did the inspection..... but i would definitely say you should get something! good luck!

Re: Termites - follow-up to prev post...

Call your RE lawyer you hired and speak to him/her b/c it means the certificate is false and that treatment wasn't necessarily made to last a year.

Re: Termites - follow-up to prev post...

i also had possible termites at closing and got a certificate etc. I haven't seen swarmers yet but this is the time of year they come back b/c the ground isn't frozen anymore. as far as the money pit comment, you have to remember long island is a sand bar and termites are naturally attracted to sand. it is more surprising to hear about a house in long island that at one point or another not have termites. have an exterminator and that's all you can do really. also a friend of mine who is into all that natural stuff told me that nematodes are termite predators. so if you sprinkle some aound the garage as extra help??