Contracting a termite company to inspect as part of inspection

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My question is if I contract with a licensed termite company to do the inspection as part of my inspection, is it ethical for them to do remediation and/or repairs? In California you must be licensed to inspect for termites. So using a licensed inspector as part of the inspection makes sense, but getting a company to inspect without the ability the perform the treatment seems prohibitive to getting a partnership…

I am adding this disclaimer to my contract:

The State of California requires licensing for termite inspectors. While Got Your 6 Inspections may see indications of termite infestations, Got Your 6 Inspections is not a licensed termite inspection company. If we do see and report signs of termites, or other wood destroying insects, that information is not to be interpreted as a termite inspection but is INFORMATIONAL ONLY. You are advised to contact a Licensed Termite Inspection company should you want a comprehensive termite inspection.

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If you’re saying/reporting anything about termites, I doubt it will be considered “informational only”.

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"We don’t inspect for Termites.
We are not licensed for WDI/WDO inspections or treatments.
We do not offer any related WDI/WDO services.
WE do not team up in any way with Pest Control Companies.
If you ask for a recommendation… we ain’t got one!"

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Contracting with ancillary services is also hanging your hat on their liability “hook.” Your business, you decide. I keep one thing I do, within that one thing.

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Isn’t everything we report informational only. If I see a bare electrical conductor in an open j-box I am conveying information about what I see. I am not an electrician, but recommend a licensed electrical contractor to evaluate and or repair base on the information I gathered during my inspection. Or am I missing something?

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When you stray away from a Home Inspection into regulated ancillary services, the State and Courts decide what’s “Informational”, not you!

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Can’t speak for CA, but in FL an HI can’t “identify” WDO without proper credentials. I can report wood damage. but not the WDO that caused it.

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So are you saying that if you see termite damage in the attic, or in the crawl space, you dont say anything about it? (unless you are wdo licensed)

I always report on damage I observe, especially if it may be a structural issue. I just use the vague words “appears to be, suspected, etc”, without calling it drywood. Even though I know it is… Followed up by a recommendation for termite inspection.

I have a similar line in my contract as Doug, that If I include any info, it is merely for the client’s benefit, and that I am not a licensed termite inspector. I dont know how else you would go about it, other than just completely leaving it out of the report… But then you will have some pretty angry clients when they find out several months after moving in…

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See my post above your question…I certainly report “damage”.

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Just curious, why not just put it in the narrative?

Observed mud tubes, tunnels or damage consistent with wood destroying insects such as termites. However, this determination must be made by a licensed pest control contractor, which I am not. Recommend further evaluation by a licensed pest control contractor and treatment as needed. Recommend repair/replace any damaged materials.

(I am not sure how a person could infer that you performed a termite inspection just because you reported on it. Your SOP should back that up)

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Clear it with your E&O insurance company first.