Why do termite quotes vary so much?
Quotes differ in San Mateo because the work differs. One San Mateo provider may include slab drilling, garage treatment, and a five-year warranty; another may skip all three. Foundation size, construction type, and product choice all move the price. Compare San Mateo proposals line by line.
How much does termite treatment cost?
Typical published ranges put whole-home termite treatment in San Mateo between $1,200 and $3,500 for a liquid barrier or bait system. Spot treatments run a few hundred dollars. Fumigation for drywood termites in a San Mateo home typically runs $1,200 to $4,000 or more.
How much does a termite inspection cost?
Around San Mateo, California, expect about $100 to $200 for a WDI inspection with a written report. Larger homes and difficult crawl spaces cost more. If the San Mateo inspector finds nothing, the report itself is still valuable for a sale or refinance.
Does homeowner insurance pay for termite damage?
No, in nearly every case. Insurers in San Mateo, California treat termites as a maintenance issue. Some policies cover sudden collapse, but not slow termite damage. A repair warranty from a San Mateo termite provider is the closest thing to coverage.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Look at the evidence. Subterranean termites leave mud in the wood and tubes on the foundation of a San Mateo home. Drywood termites leave clean galleries and piles of dry pellets. A San Mateo provider uses these clues plus the location to choose between a soil treatment and a wood treatment.
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Only for fumigation. Soil treatments, baits, and localized wood treatments on a San Mateo house do not require you to leave. If the San Mateo provider recommends tenting, plan two to three nights away and ask about arrangements for aquariums, medications, and pets.
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Modern termiticides applied by a licensed San Mateo provider are placed in soil, wall voids, or sealed bait stations, not on living surfaces. Follow the label about staying off treated soil until it dries. Fumigation requires everyone, including pets and plants, to leave the San Mateo home until clearance.
What is a termite renewal contract?
Before comparing San Mateo quotes, note this: about 83% of pest-control company locations offered annual termite renewal services, per Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine's 2025 termite market report, a BASF-sponsored Readex survey of roughly 145 professionals covering 2024 operations; this is a share of companies, not of homes under contract. San Mateo homeowners comparing quotes should ask each provider which of these patterns they see locally and why.
How do I know if I have termites or ants?
San Mateo households fit the wider pattern here: according to the NPMA/Harris Poll findings released March 24, 2026, fewer than a third of U.S. homeowners, 32%, thought they could identify termites; the result measures stated confidence, not verified identification or inspection results. Providers serving San Mateo should be able to explain how their recommendation fits what they actually found on your property.