Full report for a sale or refinance
The standard report covers findings, recommendations and areas not inspected. It is meant to give the buyer, seller and lender the same information.
Serving Sacramento County
Termite Inspection Report in Sacramento, CA
A California termite inspection report covers visible and accessible areas, is filed with the state Board and explains what to do next.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Same day when a technician is free
- Price approved before treatment
- Ants, roof rats, termites & yellowjackets
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Inspection Reports
Termite Inspection Reports: what it covers
Quick answer
A California termite inspection report is a Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Inspection Report. It records evidence of termites, fungus and dry rot in the visible and accessible areas of a property and recommends corrections. The address is filed with the Structural Pest Control Board within 10 business days. Sacramento Pest Control takes calls 24/7 for Sacramento County.
If you are buying, selling or refinancing a home in Sacramento, someone will probably mention a termite report. In California it has a formal name: a Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Inspection Report. It is a written record of what an inspector saw, in a form governed by the Structural Pest Control Act and its regulations.
The report is a snapshot, not a guarantee. It addresses the visible and accessible areas of the structure, flags places that could not be seen, and recommends how to correct any infestation or infection it finds. This page explains what the sections mean, what the Board does with the filing, how to check a company and what happens after the report. If the report finds activity, the next steps are described on termite control and, for drywood infestations that need whole-structure treatment, on termite fumigation.
- Service area
- Sacramento & Sacramento County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Typical cost
- $75 to $150 (estimate)
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
What is in a California termite inspection report?
The report is organized into sections and finding labels: Section I covers visible evidence of active infestation or infection, and findings are labelled Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites, Fungus/Dryrot, Other Findings and Further Inspection. It covers visible and accessible areas only.
Not every report reads the same way, because the form was designed for many property types, and inspectors write findings in their own words. If a line is unclear, ask the inspector to explain it before you sign anything.
The items marked for further inspection are worth reading closely. They flag areas that were not examined, such as window and door frames, decorative trim or roof members, and they often explain what access is needed. Our guide to what a California termite inspection report is walks through each section.
Who is allowed to do a termite inspection in California?
The Structural Pest Control Board licenses structural pest work. Termite inspection falls in Branch 3, and Applicators, Field Representatives and Operators licensed in that branch may conduct inspections. Every company must be registered with the Board and designate an Operator as qualifying manager.
California licenses work by branch: Branch 1 is fumigation, Branch 2 is general pest and Branch 3 is wood-destroying pests, excluding fumigation. A license is limited to the branches the holder passed.
You can check a company at pestboard.ca.gov by choosing Verify a License, which leads to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search. Select the Structural Pest Control Board and search by name, business name or license number. The Enforcement Unit at (800) 737-8188 can say whether a company is registered.
What happens after the report finds termites?
The report recommends corrections, and you choose how to proceed. For subterranean termites that is usually soil or wood treatment, and for drywood termites it may be a localized treatment or fumigation. The technician explains the price, and you approve it before any treatment starts.
A finding is not an emergency in itself, but delay can allow damage to grow. If you are in escrow, ask your agent how repairs and treatment are handled in your contract.
Wood repair, replacement of damaged framing and moisture fixes are separate from the treatment itself and are quoted separately. See termite control for the treatment options.
Who do I contact if I disagree with the report?
Questions about a report go first to the company's manager. If that does not settle it, contact the Structural Pest Control Board at (916) 561-8708 or (800) 737-8188, or visit pestboard.ca.gov. Keep your copy of the report and any photos or notes.
A written report also gives you something specific to ask about. Many disagreements come down to what was visible and accessible on the day, so ask which areas were not inspected and why.
How should I prepare a house for a termite inspection?
Clear access to the attic hatch, crawl-space door, garage walls, under-sink cabinets and exterior walls, and tell the inspector about leaks, past treatments and any wood you suspect. The report covers visible and accessible areas, so blocked areas are likely to be marked for further inspection.
Stored boxes against garage walls, dense plants against stucco and locked gates all reduce what can be seen. If a crawl space door is painted shut or covered by a deck, tell the dispatcher when you book so the technician can plan the access.
It also helps to bring any earlier reports, repair invoices or photos. A technician can compare them against what is visible and note what has changed.
Warning signs
Signs you need termite inspection reports
Do not sign or waive a report's recommendations without understanding them, and do not rip out suspect wood before the inspection. Removing damaged wood or tubes first can erase the evidence the report needs.
- You are in escrow and the lender or buyer has asked for a termite report
- You are listing a home and want to know what a buyer's inspector may find
- You saw swarmers, wings, mud tubes or frass and want a written finding
- You found soft wood, blistered paint or sticking doors and want to know the cause
- A prior report flagged an area for further inspection that has not been examined
- You are about to repair a deck, fascia, siding or crawl-space framing and want a baseline
- You are buying an older home with raised floors, a crawl space or an attic that has never been checked
- A neighbor reported termites and you want to know whether yours are active
Our process
How our termite inspection reports visit works
Booking
Call and tell the dispatcher whether this is for a sale or refinance, the age of the home and whether there is an attic, crawl space or detached structure. Most calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is available, and escrow dates are shared up front.
Inspection
The inspector examines the accessible areas: exterior, garage, attic where reachable, crawl space where there is access, eaves, fences and decks. They look for evidence of subterranean termites, drywood termites, fungus and dry rot.
Written report
Findings are written up under headings: Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites, Fungus/Dryrot, Other Findings and Further Inspection. Visible evidence of active infestation or infection falls under Section I.
Recommendations and price
Where findings call for treatment or repair, the report recommends corrections. The price is explained, and you approve it before any treatment starts.
Filing with the Board
The address of each property inspected, or on which work is completed, is reported on a Board form and filed with the Structural Pest Control Board no later than 10 business days after the inspection starts or the work is completed.
Options
Types and options for termite inspection reports
Inspection for a specific concern
If you have already seen swarmers or mud tubes, you can book an inspection to find out what and where, without a transaction deadline. The written findings still follow the same structure.
Follow-up on further inspection items
When a report flags an area that could not be seen, such as a wall behind a cabinet or a blocked crawl-space section, a follow-up visit can examine it once access is cleared.
Cost
How much does termite inspection reports cost in Sacramento?
A termite inspection is priced separately from any treatment or repair that follows. The figure below is a typical national range, not a Sacramento quote.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Termite inspection, national range | $75 to $150 | HomeGuide national figure |
| Termite treatment in California | $420 to $2,000 (average $650) | Fixr California page; if the report finds activity |
| Tentless termite treatment in California | $3.36 to $18.40 per linear ft | Fixr California page; if the report finds activity |
| Tenting or fumigation in California | $1.30 to $4.35 per sq ft | Fixr California page; if the report recommends fumigation |
These are estimates, not Sacramento quotes. Price depends on property size, access and what the report finds, and the technician explains it and you approve it before any treatment starts.
Still stuck? We pick up 24/7.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent termite inspection reports, send the form and we'll call you back.
Sacramento County
Why termite inspection reports is different in Sacramento Valley
Sacramento's older neighborhoods are where a termite report tends to matter. Curtis Park, Land Park, East Sacramento and Oak Park have large numbers of 1900s to 1940s bungalows and revival homes, and homes of this age often have raised floors, which creates crawl spaces and wood close to the soil that an inspector must be able to reach.
Downtown and Midtown have a different history. Downtown streets were raised up to 15 feet in the 1860s and 1870s, and Old Sacramento's alleys were left low, forming basements. Old buildings with below-grade spaces can have moisture and access problems that show up in a report as areas not inspected.
Newer tracts in North Natomas, Elk Grove and Vineyard are mostly slab homes, so the accessible area is the exterior, garage, attic and eaves. The report still lists evidence it finds, and a report of no visible evidence is not a guarantee about the parts that cannot be reached.
Related
Related services
Termite Control
Subterranean and drywood termite treatment for Sacramento homes, with inspection first and the price approved before work starts.
Termite Fumigation
Whole-structure tent fumigation for drywood termites, explained step by step, with California's Branch 1 rules and re-entry notices.
Crawl Space Pest Control
Inspection and treatment under older raised-floor homes for subterranean termites, rodents, ants and the moisture that feeds them.
Where we work
Termite Inspection Reports across Sacramento County
- Inspection Reports in Sacramento (Downtown)
- Inspection Reports in Midtown
- Inspection Reports in Old North Sacramento
- Inspection Reports in East Sacramento
- Inspection Reports in Curtis Park
- Inspection Reports in Oak Park
- Inspection Reports in Tahoe Park
- Inspection Reports in Land Park
- Inspection Reports in Del Paso Heights
- Inspection Reports in South Natomas
- Inspection Reports in North Natomas
- Inspection Reports in West Sacramento
- Inspection Reports in Parkway
- Inspection Reports in Arden-Arcade
- Inspection Reports in Carmichael
- Inspection Reports in North Highlands
- Inspection Reports in Foothill Farms
- Inspection Reports in Rio Linda
- Inspection Reports in Rosemont
- Inspection Reports in La Riviera
- Inspection Reports in Rancho Cordova
- Inspection Reports in Florin
- Inspection Reports in Vineyard
- Inspection Reports in Elk Grove
- Inspection Reports in Citrus Heights
- Inspection Reports in Fair Oaks
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Guides
Read before you book
What Is a California Termite Inspection Report?
A California Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Inspection Report records evidence of termites, fungus and dryrot in the visible and accessible areas of a structure, with recommendations for correction.
Older Sacramento Homes and Crawl-Space Pests: What to Check Under the Floor
Older Sacramento homes in Curtis Park, Land Park and East Sacramento often have raised floors, and the space beneath them is where soil moisture, wood and old plumbing meet.
FAQ
Termite Inspection Reports FAQs
How long does the inspector have to file the report with the Board?
The address of each property inspected, or on which work is completed, must be filed with the Structural Pest Control Board on a Board form no later than 10 business days after the inspection starts or the work is completed. Failing to file is grounds for discipline.
Does the report say my house has no termites?
No. It records evidence of wood-destroying pests and organisms in visible and accessible areas. Hidden areas, blocked crawl spaces and walls behind finishes can be marked for further inspection. A clean report is a statement about what could be seen.
Can a termite inspection report be used for a refinance?
Lenders and agents often ask for one, but the requirement depends on your loan and contract. Ask your agent or lender, and tell the dispatcher the deadline when you call.
What should I do before the inspector arrives?
Clear access to the attic hatch, crawl-space door, garage walls and the area under sinks. Move stored items away from foundation walls where possible. Tell the inspector about past leaks, prior treatment and any wood you suspect.
How do I check whether a termite company is registered?
Go to pestboard.ca.gov and use Verify a License, then search the Structural Pest Control Board by name or number. You can also call the Enforcement Unit at (800) 737-8188 to ask whether a company is registered.
Can I schedule an inspection outside business hours?
The phone is answered 24/7. Most calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is available, but no arrival time is promised. Call (855) 974-4733 and give your escrow or repair deadline.