I own a pest control business. In over 5 years we have not had a complaint about our prices (we are independent and not a ripoff franchise) or our service. Im happy to share what our company does to comply with Australian Standards. In fact if we dont comply, our insurance is null and void.
First rule as a consumer: check what the inspection actually is. We offer a visual termite inspection. Thats the crux of it - it is visual. Ordinary human beings do not have xray vision to see inside walls, boulders or anything else. Some inspectors use thermal cameras to detect the heat of the termites. If our inspectors suspect some kind of activity in the walls we will need the owner to give permission IN WRITING for walls etc to be gouged to check.
During a visual inspection we inspect the roof void, interior & exterior walls, subfloor if you have one, fences & grounds. We charge less than $200 for the average house. You will get a letter outlining live termites found, old damage found, risks & recommendations. Whether you decide to do anything is up to you, just because we inspected your house doesnt mean you wont get termites further down the track. For a prepurchase inspection which is $250 you get the paperwork required by your bank and/or solicitor - it is a legal document for which we are held liable.
It is true that the inspection is valid AT THE DATE OF INSPECTION. If you dont have physical or chemical barriers and your house is inspected today what on earth makes you think termites wont set up a nest tomorrow and start munching on your house? The inspectors say so? Why would you blame an inspector, he cant give you a guarantee that termites wont move in if you have no protection. He should however be able to point out all the risk areas around your home and make recommendations to reduce the risk of termite attack. We usually encourage our clients to have inspections every 12 months for the average property - a termite riddled place that has been fixed up we would probably recommend every 6 months until we were sure 12 monthly would suffice without risk to the home.
What types of protection? New homes are built with termite resistant materials and underslab reticulation, older homes are protected with chemicals or physical barriers are installed by builders - some people replace their homes' wooden stumps with steel ones for example. Are your ant caps if you have them, still doing the job or have they rusted away?
Our inspectors EDUCATE homeowners on what physical signs to look for, we give recommendations to reduce the risk of termite attack etc... The best thing YOU can do as a homeowner is get educated. A decent inspector will assist you to maintain your home to deter termites. A shonky one will make it all seem a mystery and just want your money.
Yes a chemical barrier needs to be inspected every 12 months to ensure it has not been breached. We do not give a guarantee of how long the barrier will last as such, how can we, we dont manufacture the chemicals used. The termiticide we use has a chemical lifespan of 8 years and our clients are made aware of that. Hopefully they will get 8 years. We also pay heavily to carry termite insurance in case an ineffective batch of chemicals is used in a barrier. It is important to check the barrier every 12 months.
Most inspections do not specifically look for drywood termites, but usually our experienced inspectors will find these during an inspection. Drywood termites do not need moisture as do other species, they also live in very small colonies making them harder to detect. If you have drywoods in your timber floor you will need a builder to replace the timbers. Chemical treatment is ineffective for drywoods. Other termite species need moisture, so you would not have a leaking tap against the building for example. That would be inviting trouble. Here are some other tips: use only treated timber in your landscaping, do not have garden rubbish lying in your yard or loose timber, store timber on corrugated iron or off the ground, make sure any water outlets are directed away from the house (eg hotwater), make sure there are no water leaks around, keep any weepholes clear, do not have heavy foliage against your house and maintain a 75mm clearance around the perimeter of your house at all times.
Forget about expensive termite monitoring systems that you pay big money for and have to have inspected every 3 months for an expensive fee, throwing some cardboard on the ground is just as an effective monitor.
Dont believe anyone that wants to sell you a "natural" termite system. We had an old couple phone very distressed because they spent thousands on "the natural way" only to have their house eaten out later. No such thing, only termiticide will kill them, not tea tree or citrus oil or some such rubbish.
Its a shame that some pest controllers give the rest of us a bad name, we pride ourselves on our reasonable prices and helpful service. We make it our mission to educate you to look after your home, which of course does not allow us to rip people off. It is very empowering for clients to be in control of their own assets rather than complain about being ripped off. We make our money through word of mouth referrals because of our company philosophy.
If you would like any more info please ask, I dont mind sharing because Australia is riddled with termites, there will always be termites for us to find and treat in peoples homes and gardens, we wont run out of work. Vigilance is the best thing for the homeowner to employ against the little buggers.