California Fumigation Cost: Compare the Written Scope

Start with the finding, not the tent

Ask the inspector to identify the pest, the visible evidence, and every area that could not be inspected. A company may propose tenting for drywood termites if signs are spread out or hidden wood makes spot work uncertain. It does not repair damaged wood and is not a stand-alone answer to subterranean termites in soil. If a quote begins with a price but skips the inspection findings, ask for the missing basis.

What can change the price

The home’s size and shape, crew access, attached rooms, roof and yard, and clearance work can change the price. Shared walls require special coordination. Listing square footage does not describe the whole tented space or the crew’s access. Ask how the company assessed the actual structure and what parts fall within the proposed treatment.

Put the household costs beside the quote

Ask how long people and pets must be away, how re-entry will be determined, and which food and medicine must be removed or prepared. A hotel, pet care, and time spent getting ready may cost extra. Ask about roof-mounted equipment if the structure has it, plants near the walls, and access to attached areas. Follow the prep steps in your written job plan.

Compare two estimates line by line

Request both scopes in writing and check the same points on each:

• The pest and inspection findings that support fumigation, including inaccessible areas.
• Structures and attached spaces included, plus any exclusions.
• Who handles preparation, notices, access, clearance testing, and re-entry paperwork.
• Whether repairs, roof or landscape issues, and any follow-up inspection are included.
• The written warranty or service terms, if offered, and exactly what they cover.

Ask about an alternative on the same evidence

A spot treatment may fit drywood termites in wood the inspector can find and reach. It can miss hidden colonies, as UC notes. Ask which wood it covers and what remains unknown. A plant-based product name alone says nothing about reach or safety; compare the evidence, label, and areas covered. Our guide to localized treatment versus whole-structure proposals gives a question list.

Request a quote with useful details

When you call, give the address, type of home, pest signs or report, and photos. Mention attached or shared spaces, access limits, prior termite work you know about, and a deadline if one applies. Ask for a written quote based on the inspection. It should name the pest, spaces covered, prep, clearance and re-entry steps, repairs, and what is left out. That gives two companies the same facts to price.

Before you sign

Check the company’s license with the California Structural Pest Control Board. Ask for the actual preparation and re-entry instructions and make sure the quote identifies who is responsible for each task. A price is useful only when you know what it covers.