Termites can be a homeowner's biggest nightmare. But do you know how helpful these tiny, devastative creatures are to our environment? They help speed up the decomposition of dead trees and decaying wood, allowing for new growth to begin! They may play a very important part in our ecosystem but, they just don't belong inside our homes.

Here are some interesting facts about termites:

• Termites work 24 hours a day! They never sleep.
• Termites use smell and sounds to communicate with each other.
• A queen can produce as many as 30,000 eggs in one day!
• Termites live in colonies and are divided into three types: soldiers, workers, and reproductive. 
• Termite soldiers and workers are blind - they can perform their duties by instinct alone.
• Termites consume decaying and live wood, as well as fungus that live on decaying trees.
• Termites are able to digest cellulose because of intestinal microorganisms - they have more than 100 species of bacteria and protozoa that aids their digestion.
  

In Australia, you have one in four chance of being targeted by termites.

Often when people get house insurance, they overlook the small details that can make a big difference. It is a common misconception that your house insurance will cover any damage of termites. This is unfortunately false. Insurance companies often will not make an effort to point out such things, as termite damage is seen preventable form of damage, and usually will only acknowledge and cover this sort of damage if action has been taken to prevent the damage.

In most cases, termite damage can end up costing you around $7,000! But depending on the extend of the damage, could end up being in the tens of thousands.

Other ways you may be able to benefit from your insurance is if termite damage resulted in a structural beam giving way and the roof of your house, or subfloor collapses causing further damage. Most insurance companies tend to cover what is known as collateral. A storm blow off the roof, or a truck drives through your garage. These are considered collateral, but unfortunately, termite damage is not.

If your insurance doesn't cover this kind of damage, there is still an option that doesn't involve tangling with a new insurance company. This is known as a termite bond. A termite bond is a contract organized with a pest company that means they will perform regular inspections and treatment on the property, so many time per year. If any damage is done by termites in the time that the bond is in place, the company will pay the expenses. However, keep in mind what kind of pests are involved in a termite bond, as not all termites are covered in the contract.

A cheaper solution to this would be to get a simple pest inspection done on your home. This will tell you all that is necessary to know if your home has termites, including what kind of actions you can take in terms of treatment, and suggestions if you need to get a portion of the house fixed.

Getting a Termite Inspection is one of the smartest investments you can ever make! Why? Because it will give you a peace of mind. You may not see any sign of infestation right now, but termites may be all over your house without you knowing! They work silently and efficiently. Without a regular inspection in place, termites could already be creating significant damage to your house that will cost you a great deal of money. 

Protect your home - your investment. Scheduling a Termite Inspection with Resicert will save you from spending thousands of dollars for damages due to an infestation. We recommend you to have a termite inspection annually, and twice a year if you live in a high-risk area.