A termite inspection is an evidence-gathering visit, not a promise that every concealed space can be evaluated.
What to document before the visit
Photograph suspected tubes, wings, insects, damaged trim, or unusual material before cleaning. Include one close image and one wider image that shows the location. Write down when the sign appeared, whether it changed, and whether plumbing, irrigation, rain, remodeling, or landscaping work occurred nearby.
Gather prior termite contracts, pretreatment certificates, warranty renewals, WDIIRs, repair invoices, and building plans if available. A timeline often prevents unnecessary guessing and helps the inspector distinguish old documented conditions from new evidence.
- Clear stored items away from accessible walls
- Provide access to garages, utility rooms, patios, and crawl areas
- Secure pets and identify locked or unsafe spaces
- Keep the suspected evidence intact when practical
- Prepare prior treatment and transaction records
Some areas may be hidden or hard to inspect
An inspector can evaluate visible and accessible conditions, but finished walls, cabinets, floor coverings, insulation, stored belongings, fixed skirting, and low-clearance spaces can limit what can be seen. A useful report should identify those limitations rather than pretending the entire structure was visible.
Outside, the inspector may check slab or stem-wall edges, utility penetrations, wood touching soil, attached patios, moisture sources, and places where landscaping hides the foundation. Inside, the inspector may check accessible baseboards, trim, windows, plumbing areas, garages, and places near the reported evidence.
Questions to ask at the end
Ask what evidence was confirmed, which conditions may attract or hide termites, which areas could not be inspected, and what should happen next. If treatment is recommended, ask the inspector to show how the proposed work relates to the findings. If monitoring is recommended, ask what change should trigger a follow-up.
Do not rely on a verbal summary alone for a major decision. Request written findings and retain them with the property records. If the inspection supports a real-estate transaction, review the formal report requirements with the involved professionals.