Atrophying home prices may not be the only thing eating away the value of your home. For all you know, termites may be steadily munching on every corner of your home, weakening its structure and forcing you into major repairs.

MSN explains what to look for when determining whether or not your house is feeding a termite colony. Telltale signs include pencil-thick mud tubes on outside walls, weakened and hollowed wood beams and outdoor swarms of the insects.

If you suspect you’re infested, round up some trusted pet companies to give you inspections and quotes on treatment. Ask potential exterminators how much service will cost, how often you’ll need to have follow-up treatments and what sort of warranty the company provides.

Think you have termites? Don’t bug out [MSN]

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