Signs of Termites: What to Record

Record observations without making a diagnosis

Write down the date, exact room or exterior location, and what you observed in your own words. A photograph taken from a safe, accessible spot may help you explain the location later. Note whether the material appeared after rain, a repair, or a change in ventilation, but do not infer a cause from timing alone. UC IPM discusses swarming insects, shelter tubes, wood changes, shed wings, and pellets as observations an inspector may consider; none of those details should be treated here as a reader diagnosis.

Avoid scraping, opening walls, climbing into an unsafe attic, or entering a tight crawlspace to collect evidence. Those spaces may have nails, dust, standing water, electrical hazards, or unstable surfaces. Leave inaccessible areas for a qualified inspector and tell the company which places you could not safely reach.

Keep the location and history clear

Make a simple room-by-room list of the areas you want discussed. Include attached garages, decks, porches, fences, detached structures, and any shared building spaces that concern you. State whether the building is a condominium, rental, association property, or part of a real-estate transaction, because access and responsibility may differ. If there have been roof, plumbing, drainage, or wood repairs, note their dates and provide documents you already have.

UC IPM explains that drywood and subterranean termite biology differs and that visible clues may not establish activity or extent by themselves. The point of your notes is to help a licensed professional understand the question and inspect the stated scope, not to select a treatment from a photograph or checklist.

Ask what the inspection includes

Before scheduling, ask the company to identify the legal business name and the license branch that applies to the requested inspection. Ask which accessible spaces will be viewed, what areas are excluded, whether moving stored items is expected, and how limitations will appear in the report. If the inspection is for a sale or refinance, explain that at the start and ask what report format and delivery process the company uses.

Request a written report that identifies the property, inspection date, inspected areas, access limits, and observations recorded by the inspector. Ask whether the document is an inspection report, a service proposal, or both. A report and a proposal serve different purposes; read the scope and exclusions before deciding what questions to take back to the company.

Compare reports and proposals on the same terms

If you seek another opinion, give each company the same address, property history, and access details. Compare the business and license information, the inspection boundaries, any stated inaccessible areas, the description of proposed work, and the documents you will receive. Ask whether work on a detached structure, fence, deck, shared wall, or landscape edge is included or would require a separate written scope.

Do not compare only a short verbal summary. Ask the provider to put changes, exclusions, preparation requests, and follow-up responsibilities in writing. The directory does not quote prices, interpret a report, decide whether work is needed, or promise a result. Contact a licensed company for an inspection and discuss the report directly with its author.

Check the California license record

Use the state lookup linked below and search by the business name or license number supplied by the company. Compare the legal name, status, and branch with the paperwork. The Board describes Branch 1 as fumigation, Branch 2 as household pest control other than fumigation, and Branch 3 as wood-destroying organisms and related structural work other than fumigation. Ask which registered company and licensed person are responsible for the actual proposal.

A directory listing is only a starting point; the regulator's current record is the source to consult for license status. The California Structural Pest Control Board's official pages explain the branch categories and provide the public search.

Use maintenance notes as context, not a conclusion

UC IPM discusses moisture, wood in contact with soil, ventilation, and stored wood as conditions that may be relevant to building maintenance. You can note a leak, drainage change, or damaged finish for the inspector and arrange ordinary repairs through the appropriate professional. Do not apply a pesticide or open a structure based on this guide. Product use must follow the label and applicable requirements; questions about a specific property belong with a licensed provider.

Keep the report, any proposal, product information, and repair records together. If a contractor updates the scope, save the revised document with its date so you can distinguish an earlier observation from later work.

Related company directories

Official sources

Sources were reviewed on November 1, 2026. Official pages may change; use the linked regulator or agency page for current information. SoCal Pest Finder is an independent directory and does not diagnose a property or recommend a treatment.