How to Interview a Termite Company Before You Sign a Bond
A termite bond is a multi-year commitment, not a one-time service. The sales rep on your porch wants you to sign before you compare. Eight questions, asked in the right order, tell you whether the crew behind the pitch can actually deliver.
This guide gives you a tight interview script that distinguishes a real Sentricon or Termidor crew from a closer running a script.
By the end you'll know which questions reveal product knowledge, which expose warranty fine print, and which catch a high-pressure pitch before you commit to a 5-year renewal cycle.
Termite contracts come in two flavors: re-treatment bonds (the company sprays again if termites return) and repair bonds (the company pays for damage too). The pitch usually blurs the difference, the price quietly tracks it, and the language in the contract decides what you actually own.
The right interview takes 20 minutes on the phone or at the kitchen table. It covers product, application, monitoring schedule, warranty type, transfer rules, renewal pricing, exclusions, and the rep's own credential. A crew that knows the work answers cleanly. A sales-only operation gets vague fast.
Key Takeaways
- Ask what product they use by brand name. "Liquid termiticide" isn't an answer, Termidor SC, Premise, or Altriset is.
- Get the warranty type in writing: re-treatment only, or re-treatment plus repair coverage.
- Annual renewal pricing matters more than the first-year price. Lock the cap in writing.
- Bond transferability at sale is the question most homeowners forget to ask.
- If the rep can't name the active ingredient or label rate, you're talking to sales, not service.
Want a second opinion on a termite bond proposal?
Talk through your bond quote with a local provider who can read the warranty language, sanity-check the renewal cap, and tell you whether you're being sold a re-treatment bond at repair-bond pricing.
8 Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Termite Bond
Work through these in order. The first two qualify the crew. The next four price the contract honestly. The last two protect you for the next 10 years.
What Specific Product Are You Applying, and at What Rate?
Ask for the brand and active ingredient. Sentricon (noviflumuron baiting), Termidor (fipronil liquid), Premise (imidacloprid), and Altriset (chlorantraniliprole) all do different things. A rep who knows their work will name the product, the EPA registration number, and the label application rate within a few seconds. A vague "we use a professional product" answer is the wrong one.
If the answer is a brand you don't recognize, ask for the EPA reg number and look it up while the rep is still on the line.
Is This a Re-Treatment Bond or a Repair Bond?
Re-treatment bonds cover only the cost of re-applying the product if termites come back. Repair bonds also cover wood-damage repair, usually up to a stated dollar cap. The two contracts look almost identical on the first page; the coverage difference is in the back. Ask which type you're signing, and request both options if the rep offers only one.
A repair bond with a $250,000 cap and clear repair language is worth significantly more than a re-treatment bond at the same price.
How Often Will You Inspect, and Who Does the Inspection?
Annual is the floor. Quarterly bait-station checks (for Sentricon-style systems) are common. Ask whether the same tech inspects each visit or whether a different person rotates through. Continuity matters: a tech who has walked your crawlspace before will spot changes a rotating crew misses.
Ask for the inspector's training background and how long they've worked the route. Tenure is one of the strongest predictors of catch rate.
What's the Initial Treatment Versus Annual Renewal Cost?
Initial treatment is the big number (often $1,200 to $3,500 for a standard home). Renewal is the small annual number ($150 to $400) you'll pay for 5 to 10 years. Some companies lowball year one and double the renewal after year two. Ask for the renewal price for years 2, 3, and 5 in writing, with a cap on annual increases.
A 10% annual renewal cap is reasonable. No cap, or "prevailing market rate" language, means the renewal can spike whenever the company decides.
What's Excluded From the Bond?
Every bond has carve-outs. Common exclusions: drywood termites (vs subterranean), conducive conditions you don't fix (mulch against siding, leaky plumbing), structures added after the initial treatment, and damage discovered more than 30 days after a missed renewal. Read the exclusion list carefully and ask the rep to walk through each one with you.
Ask specifically about garages, detached structures, and additions. These are the most commonly excluded spaces.
Is the Bond Transferable If I Sell the House?
Most bonds are transferable, but usually with a transfer fee ($50 to $200) and sometimes a fresh inspection requirement. A transferable bond is a real selling point for a future buyer; a non-transferable bond is a sunk cost. Get the transfer terms in writing before you sign.
If you're planning to sell within 5 years, prioritize bonds that transfer with no inspection fee. It's a meaningful resale asset.
What Are Your State Credentials, and Can I Verify Them?
Every termite operator needs a state pest-control credential, usually with a specific termite category endorsement. Ask for the credential number and the technician's name. Most state agencies (or the structural pest control board) maintain a free online lookup. Two minutes confirms the operator is current.
Search "[your state] structural pest control board lookup" to find the verification page.
Can I See the Treatment Diagram Before You Drill?
For liquid treatments, you'll get a treatment diagram showing trench depth, drill spacing for slabs, and the total linear footage to be treated. A real crew has a template diagram and will walk you through it before any work starts. If the rep can't produce one, the application plan probably isn't real yet.
Save the treatment diagram with your bond paperwork. You'll need it if you ever file a claim or sell the house.
Common Termite Bond Mistakes
The most common mistake is treating the initial treatment price as the headline number. Year one is the loss leader for most termite operations. The real money lives in the renewal stream, and that's where bonds quietly diverge. Two quotes with identical first-year pricing can run $1,000 apart over five years once renewal increases compound.
The second mistake is assuming "warranty" means the company will fix damaged wood. Most bonds are re-treatment only. Repair bonds cost more up front and offer real damage coverage. Ask which one you're buying. The difference is often hidden behind boilerplate language a rep can blow past in 30 seconds.
Ask for the SDS Before Application
Request the Safety Data Sheet for whatever product the crew plans to apply. Reputable operators email it before treatment day. This is especially important if you have pets, kids, or a well in the treatment zone.
Re-Treatment Bond vs Repair Bond
The price gap is real, and so is the coverage gap. Knowing which one you're buying is the difference between a $300 re-spray and a $25,000 repair bill out of pocket.
Cheapest Upfront, Thinnest Coverage
- Lower initial cost and lower annual renewal
- Company re-applies product if termites return
- You pay for any wood damage repair out of pocket
- Common entry-level bond on liquid treatments
- Best for: newer homes with no existing damage and tight termite pressure
Acceptable when damage risk is low and your inspection schedule is reliable.
Higher Cost, Real Damage Coverage
- Higher initial cost and higher annual renewal
- Company re-treats AND pays for damage repair up to a stated cap
- Damage caps typically run $100,000 to $250,000
- Often paired with quarterly bait-station monitoring (Sentricon-style)
- Best for: older homes, high termite pressure regions, or any home with subterranean activity history
The right call any time termite pressure is high or repair exposure would hurt.
Read the repair clause before you sign. "Re-treatment guarantee" alone leaves wood damage on your tab.
4 Warning Signs During the Interview
If you hear any of these during the sales call or kitchen-table pitch, slow down. A rushed bond signing is rarely the cheapest one in the long run.
Most Common 
The Bottom Line
A termite bond is a 5 to 10 year relationship, not a one-time service. The right 20-minute interview, product name, application rate, warranty type, renewal cap, exclusions, transfer rules, and credential verification, surfaces the operations that can actually do the work, and filters out the ones that can only sell it.
If two crews answer all 8 questions cleanly and the price gap is meaningful, the cheaper bid usually wins. If one crew gets vague on warranty language or renewal pricing, walk away even if their initial number is lower. The renewal stream is where bonds make their money, and the contract you sign tonight is the one you'll be paying into for the next decade.
Termite Bond Interview FAQs
Common questions about interviewing termite companies and reading bond contracts.
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What questions should I ask before signing a termite bond? Toggle answer for: What questions should I ask before signing a termite bond?
Ask the product by brand name (Termidor SC, Premise, Altriset), not 'liquid termiticide'. Get the bond type in writing: re-treatment only, or re-treatment plus repair coverage. Ask the annual renewal price and any cap. Confirm bond transferability if you sell. Ask the rep their state record number. A crew that knows the work answers cleanly. A sales-only operation gets vague fast.
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What's the difference between a re-treatment bond and a repair bond? Toggle answer for: What's the difference between a re-treatment bond and a repair bond?
A re-treatment bond means the company comes back and re-treats if termites return, but the wood damage repair is on you. A repair bond covers both re-treatment and the structural repair cost up to a stated cap. Repair bonds run 30 to 60% more annually but pay back fast if you ever need them. Read the exclusions carefully, some 'repair' bonds exclude foam, slab, and crawlspace damage.
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Should I worry about annual renewal pricing on a termite bond? Toggle answer for: Should I worry about annual renewal pricing on a termite bond?
Yes, more than the first year's price. The initial treatment is a one-time cost. The annual renewal is what you pay forever to keep the bond active. Ask if there's a cap on year-over-year increases, get it in writing, and check whether the cap applies to inspection fees only or the whole renewal. Companies that raise the renewal 25% a year for three straight years are pricing you out without saying so.
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Is a termite bond transferable when I sell the house? Toggle answer for: Is a termite bond transferable when I sell the house?
Most reputable bonds are transferable to the next homeowner, sometimes with a small transfer fee ($50 to $200). Confirm transferability in writing before signing. A transferable bond is a real selling point on the listing. A non-transferable bond is worthless to a buyer, and the renewal money you've paid evaporates at closing. Ask the rep directly: 'Is this bond transferable if I sell, and what's the transfer process?'
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What happens if I let my termite bond lapse? Toggle answer for: What happens if I let my termite bond lapse?
Termite bonds require paid annual re-inspection to stay active. Skip one year and the bond voids, which means the next claim, even on damage that started while the bond was in force, becomes your responsibility. If you have an active bond, the annual visit is non-negotiable. The re-inspection cost is small compared to losing warranty protection on a treatment that runs $1,500 to $4,000.
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How do I tell if a termite rep actually knows the work? Toggle answer for: How do I tell if a termite rep actually knows the work?
Ask three questions: what active ingredient is in the product they'll use, what's the label rate per linear foot, and what's the typical wait between trench-and-treat and post-treatment activity drop. A real tech answers all three without checking a phone. A sales rep deflects. If the person quoting can't name the active ingredient on the label, you're talking to a closer, not a tech. Verify state record and talk to another local company.
Pest Control Pros serving your city, and nearby areas
Talk to a local provider who can quote a termite bond against the right product, the right warranty type, and renewal pricing locked in writing before you sign.