Not automatically. Termite damage usually isn’t covered by homeowners insurance, it tends to stay hidden until it is well along, and it can turn up on a wood-destroying insect report when you sell. The practical way to protect your home’s value is to catch termites early: reduce moisture and wood-to-soil contact around the foundation, have the home inspected regularly, and keep records of professional termite service.
Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company, headquartered in Orem, Utah, that includes termite control among its services. This article explains why termite damage affects a home’s value, how termite inspection reports can come up during a sale, and which steps lower the risk while you own the home.
Why It’s Risky to Assume Your Home Is Safe
Termites aren’t only a problem for older or poorly maintained houses. Any home with wood in its framing, subfloors or trim gives them food, so newer homes can be at risk too. Assuming your home won’t attract them can let an infestation go untreated for years, which is why ongoing termite control relies on scheduled inspections and monitoring rather than waiting for visible damage.
In most of the country, the most common termite is the native subterranean termite, which rarely leaves the soil, mud tubes or wood it is tunneling through. As EPA guidance on identifying and controlling termites points out, most people don’t realize they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. For a long-term owner, that delay is the real risk to value: the longer a colony feeds unnoticed, the more wood there is to repair. Knowing the early signs of termite damage helps you catch activity sooner.
Why Termite Repairs Affect Your Equity
Termite damage matters to a home’s value because it affects the structure, not just the surface. Subterranean termites feed inside floor joists, subfloors, sill plates and wall framing, and reaching that wood for repair can mean opening up walls or floors.
Homeowners insurance usually won’t help with those repairs. The Texas Department of Insurance, for example, says in its homeowners insurance FAQ that a policy won’t pay for repairs when insects chew on your house. That leaves the cost with the owner, and damage that is never repaired can resurface when a buyer’s inspector looks at the house. An ongoing termite plan doesn’t replace insurance or guarantee a sale price, but finding activity early can limit how much wood is damaged before treatment.
Why Termite Inspection Reports Matter When You Sell
Patching visible damage before you list won’t stop termites that are still feeding inside the walls, and it won’t keep the problem out of the sale. Depending on the loan and the location, a buyer’s lender may require a wood-destroying insect (WDI) inspection report as part of the loan process.
VA-backed home loans are a clear example. The VA’s wood-destroying insect inspection requirements by state call for an inspection across all of Texas and Florida but only in six Utah counties; in states not on the list, one is required only when the VA appraisal notes specific issues. If a report finds active termites or damage, treatment and repairs may have to happen on the buyer’s timeline. Regular professional inspections, such as the 50+ point property inspection included in every Saela plan, let you find problems on your own schedule instead.
Steps That Protect Your Home Over Time
You don’t need to wait until you plan to sell. Most prevention comes down to removing the moisture and wood-to-soil contact termites rely on, then checking regularly so activity is found early. Keep your service records too; Saela’s guide to what to check before buying an older home explains why buyers value maintenance records.
- Schedule regular inspections: Don’t wait until you’re ready to sell. The EPA advises inspecting periodically to help keep termite colonies from becoming established, and a professional inspection covers crawl spaces, attics and other areas homeowners rarely check. When you choose who inspects, QualityPro’s directory of accredited pest-control companies is one way to check a company’s credentials; Saela is listed there.
- Address moisture issues: Fix leaking pipes and faucets promptly, keep gutters and downspouts working, and grade the soil so water drains away from the foundation. Damp soil and moist, rotting wood make a home more attractive to termites, and a well-ventilated crawl space stays drier.
- Keep wood away from the foundation: Don’t stack firewood, lumber or wood debris against the house, and keep mulch from piling up against the siding or foundation. Ideally, leave at least 6 inches of clearance between the soil and the lower edge of wood siding.
- Maintain a termite protection plan: An ongoing plan with scheduled inspections creates a documented history of professional care that you can share with future buyers, as long as the visits actually happen. In an October 2019 Google review, roc chervanik wrote that the technician “showed up on time” and said, “will continue to use this company.” Before choosing any plan, compare inspection schedules, re-treatment terms and exclusions, and see how Saela prices its plans; no plan guarantees a sale price.
How Saela Helps Protect Your Home From Termites
Whether you plan to stay for twenty years or five, the goal is the same: find termites early and keep the conditions they need under control. For termites, Saela’s packages use Trelona bait stations, and the upgraded package adds a Termidor perimeter treatment, with inspection schedules and re-treatment coverage set by the agreement you choose. Because a termite plan can run for years, ownership is worth knowing too: in April 2025, Rollins completed its acquisition of Saela, which continues to operate as a standalone brand.
Saela has more than 40,000 five-star reviews, and you can read a selection of customer reviews on its website. If you’re planning to sell in the next few years, or you’ve found mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood or damp soil near the foundation, book a call to schedule a termite inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
