In my time in the termite industry, I’ve learned that many homeowners pay more than they need to or receive unnecessary treatments because they don’t know how the industry works. Most termite companies are honest, but the way the industry operates often leads homeowners toward expensive solutions that aren’t always the best fit.

Here are five things every homeowner should know before scheduling termite treatment.

1. Fumigation Is Often Recommended Even When Other Options Exist

In California, termite inspectors are required by the Structural Pest Control Board to list fumigation as the primary recommendation for drywood termite infestations. Many homeowners interpret this to mean that fumigation is their only option.

That misconception is reinforced because larger termite companies often make fumigation their default recommendation, regardless of whether less invasive treatments might be appropriate. Some inspectors also don’t spend the extra time needed to determine whether local treatments could successfully address the problem.

By the time I’m the third or fourth company a homeowner has called, many have already decided they need to tent their house. They’re usually just looking for the lowest price. Yet after completing a thorough inspection, I’m often left wondering why they were told fumigation was necessary in the first place.

2. It’s Often Impossible to Know Whether Damage Is Old or New

Unless I’ve inspected your home in the past or see drill holes, I can’t really tell whether termite damage is the result of an active infestation or one that has already been dealt with.

During an inspection, we probe eave wood. If it breaks in a certain way, we can tell it was caused by termites, but we have no way of knowing whether the infestation is still active.

Occasionally, I’ll probe a piece of fascia and live termites will spill out. That’s satisfying because it confirms an active infestation. But that doesn’t happen very often. Most of the time, determining whether termites are still present would require destroying sections of wood, and understandably, homeowners don’t want that done during an inspection.

3. The Same Damage Is Often Treated More Than Once

Because fumigation has become the industry’s default recommendation, many inspectors develop a habit of performing quick, cursory inspections. They don’t probe every section of eave wood.

As a result, existing termite damage isn’t uncovered or documented. Years later, another inspector might probe a section of what appears to be sound wood. The wood breaks, the damage is documented as evidence of termite activity, and a treatment is recommended.

4. Bait Stations Create Recurring Revenue

Subterranean termite bait stations can be effective in certain situations, but they also create something every large company loves—recurring monthly or annual revenue.

A properly applied soil treatment is often an excellent long-term solution. Fipronil-based termiticides can remain effective in the soil for many years. As termites pass through the treated soil, they transfer the active ingredient throughout the colony, often eliminating it entirely.

A soil treatment is generally a one-time service with long-lasting results. Bait stations, on the other hand, require ongoing monitoring and maintenance, creating recurring income for the company.

Homeowners should understand why bait stations are being recommended and ask whether a conventional soil treatment would accomplish the same goal.

5. Timing Can Affect the Quality of Your Treatment

This isn’t true of every company, but it was certainly true at one of the largest pest control companies I worked for.

As the end of each month approached, management became intensely focused on hitting revenue goals. More and more jobs were added to technicians’ schedules—sometimes as many as four comprehensive termite treatments in a single day.

Completing that much work properly was impossible.

Faced with unrealistic schedules, technicians often had little choice but to rush, skip portions of treatments, or cut corners simply to finish the day’s workload.

Most technicians want to do quality work. Unfortunately, overloaded schedules sometimes make that impossible.

The Bottom Line

Not every home with termites needs to be fumigated.

Request a thorough inspection from someone willing to explain why they’re recommending a particular treatment. Have damaged wood repaired whenever practical. If bait stations are recommended, ask whether a soil treatment would provide similar or better protection. And if you’re hiring a large company, consider avoiding treatment dates scheduled during the last few days of the month.

An informed homeowner is far more likely to receive the right treatment—and avoid paying for one they don’t need.