Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/12/2024

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Bugg-Z conducted a termite inspection on a home I bought in November 2023. I received the termite inspection prior to closing as normal. On the inspection report I was notified of past termites and that scared me a bit. Bugg-Z was great and met me at the house and showed me his findings which was just a few minor termite mud tubes under the stairs and on some floor joists in the utility room part of the basement. What I was shown was not significant and therefore I moved forward with the purchase of the home.
  
  In January 2024 I entered my crawlspace for the first time to change the filter on the dehumidifier. When I looked up I saw large amounts of termite mud and significant damage. I understand Bugg-Z is not a structural inspector but sounding and prodding to ensure wood is solid should have occurred. There is a large amount of obvious visible damage as well as soft to the touch wood in the crawlspace. Bugg-Z should have caught this damage and pointed it out to me and my lender on the inspection report. Because this damage and termite evidence was not noted on the inspection report, this is a negligent termite inspection. I would not have purchased the home in the current condition and it is questionable whether or not the VA would have approved my loan.
  
  The damage is significant to the point where additional support is needed because floor joists and main support beams have been eaten away by termites. To take some pressure off the beams, I had a contractor install a supplemental beam for $3,250.83. The contractor recommends an additional $6,843.86 worth of work for a total of $10,094.69.
  
  I counted on Bugg-Z to do their job and conduct a complete termite inspection. The fact that they entered the crawlspace but did not call out or document the termite evidence and damage in the crawlspace makes this a negligent inspection.
  
  I have documented damage on the below drive.
  
   

  Business Response

  Date: 02/12/2024

  BugZ Termite inspected this home on 11/2/23 on behalf of the buyer and/or the buyer’s mortgage lender.  Evidence of previous termite infestation and treatment was noted during the inspection.  The inspection results were warrantied against reinfestation for 1 year from the date of the inspection, per industry standard.  The buyer subsequently reached out several times by phone and text regarding the previous infestation and possible damage.  BugZ met several individuals onsite on 11/6/23, after business hours and prior to the closing of the home sale, as a courtesy to further discuss the previous infestation and the buyer’s concerns.  BugZ advised the buyer to have a home inspection during this meeting but the buyer declined.  A carpenter was also present at this time on behalf of the sellers.  Following the sale, BugZ also reached out to Permite, the treating company, on behalf of the buyer which resulted in Permite also meeting the buyer onsite to confirm past infestation and assure the buyer of the existing treatment warranty.  We understand purchasing a home that has had a previous termite infestation can be frightening for many buyers.  However, the buyer had many options to further have the home inspected by a qualified home inspector or structural engineer to determine if structural damage may be present before deciding to continue with the home purchase.  Termites ingest wood and therefore damage it.  The buyer has been advised on multiple occasions, both before and after the home sale, both verbally and in writing, that Wood-Destroying Insect Inspectors (WDI) are not qualified to speak to possible structural damage.  The State/Federal reporting form (NPMA-33) clearly states this as well as “damage may be present”.  This results of this buyer’s WDI inspection were provided to the buyer’s title company on 11/3/23 and prior to the closing of the sale.  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/27/2024

  BugZ Termite inspected this home on 11/2/23 on behalf of the buyer and/or the buyer’s mortgage lender.  Evidence of previous termite infestation and treatment was noted during the inspection.  The inspection results were warrantied against reinfestation for 1 year from the date of the inspection, per industry standard.  The buyer subsequently reached out several times by phone and text regarding the previous infestation and possible damage.  BugZ met several individuals onsite on 11/6/23, after business hours and prior to the closing of the home sale, as a courtesy to further discuss the previous infestation and the buyer’s concerns.  BugZ advised the buyer to have a home inspection during this meeting but the buyer declined.  A carpenter was also present at this time on behalf of the sellers.  Following the sale, BugZ also reached out to Permite, the treating company, on behalf of the buyer which resulted in Permite also meeting the buyer onsite to confirm past infestation and assure the buyer of the existing treatment warranty.  We understand purchasing a home that has had a previous termite infestation can be frightening for many buyers.  However, the buyer had many options to further have the home inspected by a qualified home inspector or structural engineer to determine if structural damage may be present before deciding to continue with the home purchase.  Termites ingest wood and therefore damage it.  The buyer has been advised on multiple occasions, both before and after the home sale, both verbally and in writing, that Wood-Destroying Insect Inspectors (WDI) are not qualified to speak to possible structural damage.  The State/Federal reporting form (NPMA-33) clearly states this as well as “damage may be present”.  This results of this buyer’s WDI inspection were provided to the buyer’s title company on 11/3/23 and prior to the closing of the sale.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/07/2024

  Good Afternoon, 

  I do not believe that the company is attempting to put forth a good faith effort. They simply copy/pasted the same response twice. 

  The company needs to address whether they inspected the crawlspace or not. The owner annotated that he did go in the crawlspace in a text. If the company is claiming they did not inspect the crawlspace, then they annotated it incorrectly on the inspection sheet. 

  I need to know why the issues in the crawlspace were not annotated if the crawlspace was entered as the owner claimed via text. If he is claiming he did not inspect the crawlspace, then I need to understand why it was not annotated on the inspection report. 

  This really is not a good faith effort. These are simple questions that need to be addressed. 

  Thank you for your time.