Termite treatment: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering termite treatment

Termite work is a licensed, long-term service that depends on a thorough inspection, the right treatment method and a clear monitoring plan. Your value is in finding the activity, explaining the options honestly and following up until the customer knows the structure is protected.

What customers ask

  • Do I have termites, and how do you know?
  • Will the treatment be safe for my family and pets?
  • Do I have to move out for the treatment?
  • How long will the protection last?
  • What does the warranty cover?
  • Why do I need monitoring after the treatment?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the customer has seen and where, and whether any treatment or repair has been done before, then set the inspection time.
  • Inspect the foundation, crawl space, slab edges, framing and moisture sources, and show the customer the evidence you found.
  • Put the findings, the recommended method, the products by name, the areas treated, the monitoring plan and the warranty terms in the written quote.
  • Explain each option, including the tradeoffs and what each one treats, so the customer can choose with the facts in front of them.
  • Mark the drill and trench locations before the work starts, and show the customer where the treatment will go.
  • Leave a monitoring plan and a copy of the report, and set the date for the first return visit before you leave.

What to put on your profile

  • Your license information shown where your area requires it, with the termite services you perform
  • Photos of inspection findings, such as mud tubes and damaged wood, shown without identifying customers
  • The treatment methods you use and the situations each one fits
  • Your monitoring program and the schedule you set for customers

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Schedule each monitoring visit and send a reminder with the date and what the customer should clear
  • Offer a moisture and drainage check if the findings showed water problems, and explain the fix
  • Recommend repairs for damaged wood as a separate item in the quote, with the scope and the options

Licenses and permits

Termite treatment is commonly licensed in many areas, and technicians who apply termiticides may need their own license or certification. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you offer the service, and confirm that every technician holds what the area requires.

Questions

Do I need a license to treat termites?

Termite treatment is commonly licensed in many areas, and the rules can cover both the business and each technician. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you offer the service.

How do I explain a warranty to a customer?

Write what it covers, the area it applies to, the length of time, and what the customer must do to keep it valid, such as keeping the monitoring visits. Give the customer a copy in writing.

What do I say when the customer asks if the damage must be repaired?

Explain that the treatment stops active termites and does not repair damaged wood. Point to the damage you found, and recommend a licensed carpenter or repair contractor for the repair as a separate job.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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