The short version
Compare termite warranties on six things: type (retreatment-only or repair), what triggers the company's obligation, exclusions, the repair cap if any, the annual renewal fee and how it can change, and transfer and cancellation terms. Put each warranty into those columns and the differences become clear. The headline of lifetime or full coverage means nothing until you have read the triggers and exclusions.
- Retreatment-only and repair warranties are different products; know which you are comparing.
- The trigger clause defines when the pro must act; read it word for word.
- Exclusions and conducive-condition clauses are where coverage is lost.
- Renewal fee and its escalation determine the real long-term cost.
- Transferability and reinstatement terms matter years later.
This is for homeowners comparing treatment quotes with different warranties, owners deciding whether to upgrade from retreatment to repair coverage, buyers evaluating a seller's transferable warranty and property managers standardizing warranty terms across buildings. It assumes you have the warranty documents, not just the quote summaries, and about an hour to read them.
What to look for
When activity returns or damage appears, they discover that lifetime meant as long as you renew annually at a fee we set, full meant retreatment only, and unlimited had a cap on repair. The terms that most often surprise people are the triggers (some warranties require visible live termites, not just tubes), the conducive-condition clauses (a leak you did not fix can void coverage for that area), the pre-existing damage sealing entry points (anything on the initial graph is never covered), the renewal escalation (fees can rise without limit at renewal) and the reinstatement clause (a missed renewal can require a new initial treatment at full price). None of these are unusual or unfair on their own, but a homeowner who did not compare them may be holding a warranty far weaker than the one they could have chosen for a similar price. Warranty language is drafted by the pro and is tested only when something goes wrong. Homeowners read the cover page, see a term like lifetime, full or unlimited, and file the document.
- 1New mud tubes on treated walls, which may or may not trigger the warranty.
- 2Live termites in wood or tubes, the trigger most warranties require.
- 3Swarmers inside, often not a trigger on their own.
- 4New damage in a covered structure not on the initial graph.
- 5Bait station hits, which trigger service under a bait warranty.
- 6Damage in an area the pro noted as conducive and uncorrected.
- 7Activity in a structure not listed on the warranty graph.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Signing without comparing triggers can leave you with a warranty that rarely applies.
- A low repair cap may not cover a single structural repair.
- Uncapped renewal escalation can make a cheap warranty expensive.
- A missed renewal can end coverage and require a full new treatment.
- A non-transferable warranty complicates a sale years later.
costs U.S. homeowners billions of dollars a yearTermite damageUSDA Treatment options and typical costs
Warranty document request
No cost: DIY step
You ask each pro for the full warranty document, not the summary on the quote. The document is what governs a claim. A pro who cannot or will not send it before you sign is a reason to look elsewhere.
- Time
- One request per pro
- Best for
- Every quote before comparison
Retreatment-only warranty
first year included; $150–$400 per year renewal
The pro retreats covered structures at no charge when the trigger is met. No damage repair. Compare the trigger, the response time, the exclusions and the renewal escalation.
- Time
- Annual, renewable
- Best for
- Owners wanting the pro to return if termites do
Repair (damage) warranty
$250–$600 per year renewal; caps vary
Retreatment plus repair of new damage to covered structures, subject to a cap and exclusions. Compare the cap, what counts as new, whether contents and finishes are covered and who selects the contractor.
- Time
- Annual, renewable
- Best for
- Owners wanting new damage repaired up to a limit
Term comparison worksheet
No cost: DIY step
A table with a row per term and a column per warranty, filled in from the documents. Differences in triggers, exclusions, caps and fees become visible in one view.
- Time
- 45–60 minutes
- Best for
- Two or more warranties in hand
Written clarification and addendum
No cost: DIY step
You send each pro the questions the worksheet raised and ask for written answers or an addendum. Verbal assurances about how the warranty works in practice are not enforceable; an addendum is.
- Time
- A few days for replies
- Best for
- Any term that is vague or that a pro explained verbally
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Subterranean termites don't stop in winter; they just go deeper. A quiet season is a good time for a non-urgent inspection.The warranty comparison worksheet.
1. Type: retreatment-only or repair. 2. Covered structures: as listed on the graph; note anything missing. 3. Covered species: subterranean, drywood, Formosan, all. 4. Trigger: the exact wording of what obligates the pro to act, and whether tubes alone qualify. 5. Reporting deadline: days from discovery. 6. Response time: days from report to inspection and to treatment. 7. Retreatment scope: the affected area, or the whole structure, at the company's discretion. 8. Repair cap: per claim, per year or lifetime; whether it covers contents, finishes and engineering. 9. New damage definition: how the warranty distinguishes new from pre-existing, usually by reference to the initial graph. 10. Contractor selection: pro chooses, you choose, or you choose from a list. 11. Exclusions: each one in plain words. 12. Homeowner obligations: conducive-condition corrections, access, no other pest control, notice before construction. 13. Renewal fee: amount and escalation clause. 14. Annual inspection: included, interior and exterior, or exterior only. 15. Lapse and reinstatement: grace period and cost to reinstate. 16. Transfer: fee, inspection requirement, deadline. 17. Cancellation: by either party, notice and refund terms. 18. Dispute resolution: arbitration, venue, time limit for claims. Add a five-year cost row: any initial premium plus four renewals at the stated fee, with a note if escalation is uncapped. Then read across each row and mark differences. The trigger, exclusions and cap rows usually decide the comparison; the fee rows tell you what the difference costs. Anything unclear becomes a written question to the pro. A good answer is specific and can be added as an addendum. An answer that relies on it never being a problem in practice is a reason to keep asking. Extract these terms from each warranty document and put them in a table, one column per warranty.
Reading the trigger, the cap and the exclusions closely.
Strong wording obligates the pro to retreat, at no charge, any covered structure where new evidence of covered termites is found, within a stated number of days of notice. Weaker wording says the pro will retreat as necessary in its judgment, or requires live termites to be present at the company's inspection. Termites are not always visible when the technician arrives; fresh tubes and rebuilt tubes should count. Ask each pro whether they do, and get the answer on paper. The repair cap is the number that matters on a repair warranty. Ask whether it is per claim, per year or for the life of the warranty, and whether it resets. Then ask yourself whether it would cover a realistic repair for your house: replacing a section of sill plate and sistering several joists in a crawl space can run several thousand dollars; a low cap that would not cover that is a small benefit for the extra fee. Also check what the cap includes: materials and labor only, or also drywall, paint, flooring and engineering. The new damage definition is where repair claims are won or lost. Most warranties treat anything on the initial inspection graph as pre-existing and excluded. That makes the initial graph one of the most important documents you hold. Review it before signing, ask for corrections if it marks sound wood as damaged or omits areas, and keep it with the warranty. Exclusions vary and should be read one by one. Conducive-condition clauses deserve special attention: if the pro notes a leak, wood-to-soil contact or grade above the sill and you do not correct it, coverage for that area can be reduced or voided. Keep every notice and every receipt for corrections. Inaccessible-area exclusions can be reduced by clearing access before the initial inspection, so do that if you can. The trigger is the sentence that makes the warranty real.
In a basement, the wooden sill plate on top of the block wall is the first piece of wood termites reach.Fees, renewals, transfer and choosing between warranties.
A warranty included free in the first year and renewing at a fee that can rise without limit is a different product from one with a modest first-year premium and a capped renewal. Ask each pro for the renewal fee history over the past few years; established pros can tell you. Check what the renewal includes. Many include an annual inspection; some inspect the exterior only unless you request more. An annual inspection that covers the interior and crawl space is worth something on its own, and it is also what keeps the company's records current for any claim. Read the lapse clause and take it seriously. A missed renewal can end the warranty, and reinstatement may require a new treatment at full price. Set a reminder a month ahead. If you expect to sell within a few years, weigh transferability: a transferable warranty with a reasonable fee is a selling point, and buyers' lenders sometimes ask about it. When choosing between two warranties, ask which one would actually pay in the scenarios you care about. If your main worry is termites returning, a retreatment warranty with a clear trigger, fast response and few exclusions is the right product, and the repair upgrade may not be worth it. If your house has a crawl space with a history of damage and you want the cost of new damage covered, a repair warranty with a meaningful cap is worth the extra fee, provided the initial graph is accurate. If the two pros' treatments and prices are similar, choose the warranty with the clearer trigger and the capped renewal. Whatever you choose, file the full document, the graph, the renewal notices and every claim and response together. The warranty is only as good as your ability to show that you kept its terms. Compare fees over five years, not one.
What affects the price
- Retreatment-only versus repair coverage.
- Repair cap amount and whether it is per claim or lifetime.
- Renewal fee and the escalation clause.
- Number and size of covered structures.
- Treatment method the warranty is attached to.
- Whether an annual inspection is included in the renewal.
- Transfer fee and any transfer inspection requirement.
- Reinstatement cost after a lapse.
When to call for help
Comparing two written warranties side by side is the most reliable way to see what each actually covers. If you are comparing warranties and a pro cannot answer the worksheet questions clearly, or their answers differ from the document, ask for a second proposal from another licensed pro. Do not disturb the evidence more than needed to photograph it. Follow the call with an email that includes photos and a description, so the report is dated by email or text. Call the warranty pro, not anyone else, the moment you see activity on a warranted property, and do it within the reporting window in the document.
What you can do yourself
If you are unhappy with the company's response to a claim, the path is a written complaint, then your state's pesticide regulatory agency, then a change of pro at renewal. Most warranties void coverage if anyone other than the pro applies termiticide, disturbs bait stations or repairs damage before the pro inspects. Do not treat a warranted property yourself. Do it before signing and again at each renewal, since terms can change. Every clause can be reduced to a plain sentence, and the worksheet in this guide gives you the sentences to look for. Reading and comparing warranties is your job and needs no expertise beyond patience.
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Keep the full warranty document, not just the quote, in your termite folder.
- Write the reporting deadline and the claims contact on the folder cover.
- Confirm every structure you want covered is on the graph.
- Correct things that attract termites the pro notes and keep receipts.
- Put the renewal date on your calendar a month ahead.
- Ask at each renewal whether any term has changed.
- Notify the pro by email or text before any construction near the foundation.
- Confirm transfer terms before listing the property.
A liquid soil treatment goes into a trench along the foundation so termites cross it on their way to the house.Did you know?
Termite bond is a regional name for a termite service agreement that comes with a warranty.
In some states the pesticide agency sets minimum terms for termite contracts.
Nobody can see termites through a wall, so most warranties rely on visible evidence.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a termite retreatment warranty and a repair warranty?
A retreatment warranty obligates the pro to treat again, at no charge, if covered termites return to covered structures. A repair warranty adds coverage for new termite damage, up to a cap and subject to exclusions. Repair warranties cost more per year. The cap, the definition of new damage and the exclusions determine whether the extra cost is worth it for your house.
What triggers a termite warranty claim?
It depends on the wording. Some warranties require live termites or fresh evidence of activity in a covered structure; others accept new mud tubes. Swarmers alone often do not qualify. Read the trigger clause and ask the pro for an example of what does and does not qualify. A clear warranty states the trigger, the reporting deadline and the response time.
What does a termite warranty usually exclude?
Pre-existing damage shown on the initial inspection graph, structures not listed on the graph, termite species not covered, damage in areas with uncorrected things that attract termites, inaccessible areas, damage to contents and finishes, and consequential costs such as temporary housing. Some exclude damage found during renovation. Translate each sealing entry points into a plain sentence and decide whether it matters for your property.
Can a termite warranty renewal fee increase?
Usually yes. Most warranties let the pro set the renewal fee each year, and some cap the increase while others do not. Ask whether there is a cap and what the fee history has been. A low first-year fee with uncapped escalation can become expensive; a slightly higher fee with a cap is often the better value over a decade.
What happens if I miss a termite warranty renewal?
Many warranties end at the renewal date if unpaid, and reinstatement may require a new inspection and sometimes a new initial treatment at full price. Some allow a grace period. Read the lapse and reinstatement clause, set a calendar reminder a month before renewal and confirm the pro has your current contact information.
Is a termite warranty transferable to a new owner?
Some are, usually for a transfer fee and sometimes only after a transfer inspection while the warranty is current. Others end at sale. Read the transfer clause and ask the pro for the fee and process on paper. A transferable warranty is a selling point; a non-transferable one should be disclosed to the buyer as ending at closing.
In Compare Treatment Warranty Terms, can a pest control company do a termite inspection for a home sale?
In Compare Treatment Warranty Terms, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. In Compare Treatment Warranty Terms, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
Sources (5)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides