Al though a termite inspector is a professional with technical skills and know how directed towards helping you to protect and preserve your valuable property, many homeowners continue to have misconceptions about this valuable warrior in the war against termite invasions. Some people even think of this professional as a glorified salesperson.
It is always best to try to find one who is not affiliated with a pest control company whenever possible to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest and to give you some assurance that you are not being set up for a sale pitch.
These professionals not only have specialized knowledge and training, they also have particular tools of the trade and you should look for such tools as one way of determining whether the inspector who comes to your home is in fact a professional. First, you should ask to see their license. You should see if the person is wearing coveralls or a white lab suit or coat. Does the person have a mask, a flashlight, a pen and writing tablet, and other tools such as a temperature gauge, a small hammer, and possibly a screwdriver and an ice pick or similar tool.
This person should give your home a detailed inspection. Your attic and basement should be especially gone over as well as underneath your house. The person should crawl underneath your house and inspect support structures for signs of infestation. Are there mud tubes anywhere? S/he should walk around and observe the foundation of your home looking for signs of termites: a cluster of wings, mud tubes, wood powder, etc.
The discovery of infestations is not the only thing such person should be concerned with. You should be told if there are conditions present which might make your home more vulnerable to attack and what you can do to remove such threats.
