Quick answer
A termite inspection is a visual check of a home's accessible areas,
foundation, baseboards, attic and any crawl space, for termite
activity, damage, and the conditions that invite it back. It usually
takes 30 to 60 minutes. A standard home inspection does not cover it.
Signs you may already have termites: mud tubes running
up a foundation wall, discarded wings on a windowsill after a swarm,
wood that sounds hollow or gives when pressed, and small pellet-like
droppings below tiny holes in trim. None confirm an infestation on
their own. See the droppings
guide for photos.
What it costs: there is no reliable national average,
and we would rather say so than invent one. Price depends on the size
of the property, slab or crawl space, and whether the job needs a
specific written report, such as Florida's WDO report for a sale. A "free" inspection from a company that
also sells treatment is a different product from a paid, independent
report. More in common questions.
Treatment is a different job. If an inspection finds
termites, the next step is treatment, and for drywood termites that can
mean tenting the whole structure for fumigation. Get treatment quotes in
writing from more than one company.
Before you book: ask for a licence number and get the
price in writing. Four questions to ask.
Before you call
How a termite inspection works
A typical inspection moves through the property in a set order.
Larger, older, or heavily furnished homes take longer, and not every
home has a crawl space or accessible attic.
- Exterior. Foundation, siding, eaves, and any wood touching soil, checked for mud tubes and moisture damage.
- Interior. Baseboards, window and door frames, closets, and garage framing, where mud tubes often show up first.
- Attic and crawl space. Trusses, rafters, and floor joists, checked for droppings, exit holes, and decay where the wood is exposed.
- Findings. The inspector reports what they found, or didn't, in every area they could actually reach.
A "clear" result means no visible evidence in the areas the inspector
could access, not a guarantee the house has never had termites.
Furniture, insulation, and stored boxes can all hide evidence, and a
thorough inspector will say so on the report rather than stay silent
about it.
Choosing an inspector
In Florida we check listings against the FDACS business licence
register, and in Texas against the Texas Department of Agriculture's
register, including the termite category. See
how this site works. Either way, treat
these as questions to put to the company directly.
- Ask to see a licence number and ID before anyone starts work, and check it yourself: with FDACS in Florida, or the Texas Department of Agriculture in Texas.
- Get the price in writing before the inspection begins. A quote far below everyone else's is a warning sign, not a deal.
- Be wary of an inspection you didn't ask for, an uninvited "free inspection" that turns up a problem on the spot is a well-documented pressure tactic.
- Get a second opinion before signing anything, especially if the same company is also asking you to sign up for treatment.
Common questions
Is a WDO inspection the same as a termite inspection?
Not always. A wood destroying organism inspection covers
wood-decay fungi as well as insects; a termite inspection, strictly,
doesn't have to. In Florida, the inspection done for a property sale
is a WDO inspection by law, and Florida's definition names
"wood-decaying fungi" alongside termites.
What a Florida WDO inspection covers.
What should an inspection cost?
There is no reliable national average, and we would rather say so than invent
one. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes no producer price index for this
industry, and the figures repeated across most websites trace back to price
lists that were withdrawn years ago. Cost depends on the size of the property,
whether it sits on a slab or over a crawl space, and whether the job
needs a specific written report, such as Florida's WDO report for a sale.
One thing worth knowing: a free inspection offered by a company that
also sells treatment is not the same product as a paid, independent report for
a lender.
Can I get quotes through this site?
Yes. Every metro page has a short quote request form. We review each
request and connect you with a licensed termite company serving your
area. You can also call any listed company
directly; every card has a phone number.
Is a listing here an endorsement?
No. Listings are free and there is no way to pay for a higher position
or a better-looking card. If that ever changes it will be said plainly
on this page and on the listings it affects.
More about the project.
