I don’t know a single company that charges for a standard termite inspection. The only inspections I charge for are escrow inspections—industry norm—but everything else is free.

Still, very few homeowners want their home inspected, even when it costs nothing. Who wants to find out they have termites, especially if it might mean they need to tent their home? Most people wait until they see some evidence, usually after cleaning it up and hoping it won’t come back.

The choice is often between a free inspection or doing nothing and risking hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars in damage and treatment. You’d think it would be a no-brainer.

So why the hesitation?

Reason number one: fear of fumigation. It’s expensive, inconvenient, forces you out of your home for three days, may require boarding pets or paying for hotels for tenants—and that’s without even mentioning what took place in Breaking Bad. (Damn you, Vince Gilligan!)

Reason number two: the industry’s reputation. Too many termite inspectors are really just salespeople. Of course they’re going to find something—they don’t make money otherwise, is the common belief. I’d feel the same way if I wasn’t in the industry.

I go into every inspection trying to dispel both fears. My goal is always not to tent. That’s why I’m as thorough as possible. I’m also transparent. I invite homeowners to follow me during the inspection. Afterwards, I walk them around the house and show them everything I found. In attics and crawl spaces, I take photos and send them with time and location stamps. I have nothing to hide. I’m perfectly happy when I don’t find any termite evidence at all.

Inspections might be free for homeowners, but they aren’t free for a termite company. There’s the cost of time, fuel, and wear and tear. There are KN95 masks I burn through in attics and crawlspaces. Every inspection requires a report that I generate using a paid software service, plus a filing fee with the State of California’s regulatory agency.

And a good termite inspection definitely isn’t free of effort. Attics and crawlspaces are dirty, cramped, and often dangerously hot. Most homes have exterior eaves that all need to be probed if the goal is to avoid fumigation. If I’m doing my job right, I leave every inspection dirty, sweaty, and sore—with a shoulder aching from probing, knees and shins banged up from attic framing, and a cough despite wearing a mask.

A free termite inspection has value—real value—but because it’s free, some homeowners don’t value it. Many want three bids. They want you to show up at their convenience. I don’t blame them. But it’s disappointing when you do everything right, give the most honest recommendation and price you can, and never hear from them again.

It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it sticks with you. Still, I’m not going to let it get me down. I’ll keep doing things the right way.

Just remember: when you schedule a “free” termite inspection, it’s not really free—and not everyone in this industry is trying to pull one over on you.