Inman

Termites expected to wage war on real estate

Termites can eat into homeowners’ pocketbooks, causing an estimated $2.5 billion in damages each year, according to the National Pest Management Association, and this year the termite swarms are expected to be particularly heavy.

The Gulf States, and especially Louisiana, are prime territory for termites. An estimated one in 30 homes is infested with termites, and an average house can be treated for termites for about $1,400.

According to university studies, termite damage and management in Georgia cost an estimated $122 million each year. In Texas, that number is about $200 million, and in Louisiana it’s closer to $500 million.

The National Pest Management Association, a trade group for the pest control industry, represents about 4,600 companies in the United States and abroad.

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