When looking on line or in a Yellow Pages book there are so many companies to choose from, it can be daunting to say the least. Angies list is a wonderful company if you are willing to join. I believe the best way to find a company is to get a referral from a friend or family member.
Here are some important things to know before scheduling your first appointment. 1. Is the company licensed and bonded for the State of California? 2. Will you have a Licensed Branch 3 Inspector doing your inspection? 3. Does the Inspector work on commision? 4. Are there any complaints registered against the company? Check at http:pestboard.ca.gov/ 5. Will you receive a full written Inspection report with the findings itemized and the cost for repairs/treatments also itemized?
Several companies offer Free Inspections. Remember, it costs the company to send someone to your home, and we pay filing fee's and taxes on each Inspection report we file. It is the law that if someone comes to your home and looks at a problem or does a inspection a Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Inspection report MUST be issued to you within 7 days and a copy must be filed with the Structural Pest Control Board of California. This is for your protection! Be sure you will receive your copy of this report! Many Free Inspections are completed by Sales Persons who will earn a commission on what service they sell you, therefore the cost from such companies will be higher than others. Many companies do not file the required reports unless they get the job. If they are willing to be dishonest in this way, will they be honest in evaluating what your home needs?
The Inspector should be willing to show you any infestation or infections he has found. Live termites, or recent evidence such as termite pellets will be as visible to you as it was for him.
Local treatments cost much less than Fumigation (tenting). Ask if a guaranteed local treatment can be done. Local treatment kill any termites that the chemical reaches, and State Approved Termicides usually have a lasting effect on the treated wood. Products such as Orange Oil do not.
Fumigation is the best Guaranteed way to totally eliminate Dry-wood termites that might be in inaccessible areas of the structure as the fumigant is a gas that penitrates the wood. Local treatments are also effective for the contained area of a Dry-wood termite infestation.
Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel in mud tubes up to a food source. Soil treatment is the best type for this type of termite. The area where the infestation is coming up through the soil is where the chemical treatment is applied, saturating the soil and making a chemical barrier that keeps the termites from reaching it's food source and then dying off. Entire substructure treatments of raised floor homes is rarely needed. Treatments around the foundation exterior as a preventive do not address any or all of the area under the slab of the home and we feel it is not your best choice.
I hope this answers some questions for you! Ask questions, get the answers you want before you schedule. Get referrals from friends and family. Ask for customer referrals too.