Silver Bullet Pest ControlWho Pays for a Termite Inspection in NJ: Buyer, Seller or VA Loan?
Straight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
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Quick answer: usually the buyer, but your contract decides
Who pays for a termite inspection in NJ, the buyer or the seller? In most New Jersey home sales the buyer orders and pays for the termite (wood-destroying insect) inspection as part of their inspections, but the purchase contract decides, and it can be negotiated. On VA loans, the lender sets the requirement and the rules on who may pay, so ask your lender. Silver Bullet Pest Control provides WDI reports in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Buyer, seller or VA: who usually pays
| Situation | Who usually orders it | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional home purchase | The buyer, with other inspections | Your purchase contract |
| Seller wants to list with a clean report | The seller | The seller |
| VA loan | Arranged through the transaction | Your VA lender's rules |
| Termites found, treatment needed | Negotiated | Contract and attorney review |
Real estate attorneys review contracts in NJ; ask yours if the contract is unclear.
What is a termite clearance letter?
"Termite clearance letter" is a common name for the WDI report showing no active infestation was found, or that a found infestation was treated. In New Jersey home sales it's usually the NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect report. See NPMA-33 WDI reports.
What we see on these jobs
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
Subterranean Termites
- Mud tubes on the foundation
- Swarmers near windows in spring
- Hollow-sounding wood
Eastern subterranean termites are the termite of New Jersey. Termite treatment comes with a 90-day warranty.
Carpenter Ants vs Termites
- Pinched waist vs thick waist
- Clean galleries vs mud-packed tunnels
- Sawdust piles vs no sawdust
Getting the ID right decides the treatment. A licensed inspection tells you which one you have.
Wood Damage & Repair
- Soft or crumbling sills
- Bubbling paint on wood
- Damage behind baseboards
After treatment, damaged wood should be checked and repaired so the house stays solid.
How to order one
Call or text
973-510-2585 with the address and closing date.
Give access
Basement, crawl space and garage need to be reachable.
Inspection
A licensed inspector checks for termites and other wood-destroying insects.
Report
You get the report for your agent, attorney and lender.
Simple ways to prevent it
Keep wood off soil
Wood touching soil is a direct path for termites. Keep a gap.
Pull mulch back
Keep mulch a few inches from the foundation.
Fix gutters
Make downspouts drain away from the house.
Move firewood
Store firewood away from the house and off the ground.
How Silver Bullet handles it
Call or text a photo
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
Inspection
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
Treatment or removal
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
Seal and prevent
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Get Help From a Licensed Exterminator
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
Calls we get every week
- Mud tubes on the foundation
- Winged swarmers in spring
- A home sale needing a WDI report
- Soft or damaged wood
- Wood piles touching the house
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for the termite inspection, the buyer or the seller?
Usually the buyer in a conventional NJ sale, but the purchase contract decides.
Who pays for the termite inspection on a VA loan?
Your VA lender sets the rules; ask them before ordering.
What is a termite clearance letter?
A common name for the wood-destroying insect (WDI) report used in home sales.
How long is a termite report good for?
Lenders set how recent it must be; ask your lender.
What happens if termites are found?
The report notes it, and treatment is negotiated between buyer and seller.
When do termites swarm in New Jersey?
Usually on warm days in spring, often after rain. Swarmers near windows indoors are a warning sign.
Is there a warranty on termite treatment?
Yes. Termite treatment carries a 90-day warranty.
Do I need a termite inspection to sell my house?
Many buyers and lenders ask for a WDI (wood-destroying insect) report. We do licensed inspections.
Can termites damage a brick house?
Yes. They get in through cracks and attack the wood framing, sills and floor joists.
What are the signs of termites?
Mud tubes on foundations, piles of shed wings, hollow-sounding wood and blistered paint.
When do termites swarm in NJ?
Usually on warm days in spring, often after rain.
Can termites eat through drywall?
They can tunnel through the paper on drywall and the wood behind it.
Do termites bite?
No, termites don't bite people.
Can I treat termites myself?
Store products rarely reach the colony. Professional treatment is recommended.
Do you do real estate termite inspections?
Yes, licensed termite inspections for home sales.
How much does termite treatment cost?
It depends on the size of the home and the treatment needed. Call or text 973-510-2585 for a quote.
Are winged ants and termites the same?
No. Termite swarmers have equal wings and straight antennae; ants have unequal wings and bent antennae.
Do termites come back after treatment?
Our termite treatment carries a 90-day warranty; ask about follow-up inspections.
Can you do it before closing this week?
Same-day service is available; call with your closing date.
Serving North Jersey
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B