Termites can wreak havoc on a home. They chew and hollow out wood, and sometimes the damage they cause is not obvious to the homeowner until it is pretty pervasive. For this reason, if you live in an area where termites are common, you might want to have a termite inspector come look over your home every year or every few years. Here are the key areas that the inspector is likely to focus on.

Your Foundation

Your foundation is likely not made from wood, but it is a part of the home that the inspector will look at. They may be able to see some holes or cracks in the foundation where termites could enter your home. These holes and cracks also make it more likely that water will enter your basement. If water enters your basement and moistens any wood down there, this makes a termite infestation more likely. So, don't be surprised if your termite inspector recommends some preventative repairs to your foundation, even if you don't currently have termites.

Basement

Your termite inspector will likely spend a lot of time looking at any posts and beams in your basement. They won't just look at the wood itself, but also the floor around the wood. Here, they are checking for frass, which is termite feces, or for discarded termite wings. Dampwood termites, which eat damp wood, are the most common type of termites in most areas — and they tend to be found in basements.

Crawlspaces and Attics

Not all termites prefer damp wood. There is a type of termite called a drywood termite that prefers to chew dry wood in attics and crawlspaces. These termites make a characteristic tapping noise as they chew, and they leave a lot of messy wood shavings around, so they are usually pretty easy for inspectors to identify.

Fences

It's common for termites to start chewing up fences before they find their way into your actual home. So, a termite inspector will probably look over any wooden fences on your land. Finding termites in your fence is not as bad as finding them in your house. But if they are in your fence, you may want to put down some baits and make sure your basement is dry so the termites don't move in.

In any area where termites are common, termite inspections are a smart investment. You can expect your inspector to focus on the areas above, although they'll probably check some other areas, too.

For more information on termite inspections, contact a company like Optima Home Inspections.