Selling A House With Powder Post Beetles

Published on April 3rd, 2023

Getting ready to sell your home is a stressful time. It can be made even more stressful if, before your sale, you find out that your home has problems. Have you recently found out that your home has powder post beetles?

If so, you undoubtedly have thousands of questions running through your mind, with the biggest, "How can I sell my home with an active infestation of powderpost beetles?"

What are powder post beetles? One article mentions, "Powder post beetles are any of several beetles (family Lycitdae) having larvae that feed in very dry wood or lumber, which reduce the interior to powder. These wood-destroyers are second only to termites in the amount of damages they do to wood annually. They are small, brown insects which are usually less than 1/4 of an inch in length."

So why are powder post beetles so bad? A powderpost beetle infestation can destroy your home. They are wood destroying pests who love old wood, hardwood flooring, structural wood, and floor joists. Many homeowners with active infestations can tell you that these wood-destroying pests cause costly damage due to having to replace the infested wood and hiring an inspector.

Finding these wood pests is a hard task. True powderpost beetles and the beetle larvae can only be found in tiny (pinhole-sized) holes in the wood with a powder-like substance or dust surrounding the hole.

Many homeowners only find out about the infestation and structural damage from these adult powderpost beetles and other wood destroying organisms from home inspectors - then what?

Throughout the course of this article, we will discuss five ways you can sell your home to a buyer with evidence of powderpost beetle presence.

Selling To A Real Estate Investor That Specializes In Properties With Powder Post Beetle Damage

A real estate investor is an individual or a corporation that is looking to purchase homes that need work at a reduced price point. They will then invest money into the property for an assessment of the home's structure, regular pest control with a licensed company, and other methods of treatment for the hardwoods and hardwood floors affected.

This all costs a lot of money. Money that most buyers don't have or the patience to deal with. This is why an experienced investor might be a good option for this type of house.

Selling Through A Real Estate Agent On The MLS

Selling real estate through a realtor is one of the most common ways to sell property, but is it right for you if your house has any beetles like deathwatch beetle, termites, or post beetle?

Your best bet when selling through a real estate agent is to lower your overall asking price of the home and fully disclose to a buyer what repairs will cost, where you have treated things if beams are damaged, and if you have hired a pest control company.

You can sell a house with an infestation; it just might take longer. If this doesn't seem like a good fit for you, there are other options.

Selling your home directly to a prospective buyer without using a real estate agent could be beneficial if you own a house with the most species of beetles, including powder post beetles.

However, you are still obligated to disclose any damage to the construction of the home from the beetles feeding on the wood and any evidence of frass left behind.

Selling At An Auction

Potential home buyers go to a home auction expecting a deal and know that there might be damage to these types of houses.

An experienced buyer will be on the hunt for a deal by looking below the surface, so to speak, for signs of damage to your home. They might do a personal inspection and look closely at hardwood flooring and beams if they can see them in your attic and the floor joists from the crawl space or basement before placing their bid.

All of these factors will contribute to the overall profit you will make from the sale of a home with an active infestation of powderpost beetles.

Selling To A Local Home Buying Company

A powderpost beetle infestation can be devastating to your house. The repairs needed to your home can be far out of your budget, leaving you with little choice but to sell your house to someone who is experienced in dealing with beetles.

Another great option is to sell your home to a local home-buying company that will come in and "flip" your home by making repairs and then selling it for a profit.

They will hire professionals to come into the house to conduct the treatment with a trusted inspector. Once the infestation is under control at the property, the home buying company will then make cosmetic updates to the flooring and other damaged wood and relist the home.

Selling your home at any stage of the life cycle of powderpost beetles will be challenging, but it's far from impossible.

Any type of pest infestation within a property or structure needs to be taken seriously and dealt with swiftly to avoid further insect feeding and damage in the form of holes.

After a more in-depth discussion surrounding these five options, make the choice that is best for you, your family, and your property situation.