As an experienced realtor in Palm Springs, I’ve seen my share of termite infestations, and dry rot. But, I was shocked when I recently discovered evidence of termites in my own home. Luckily, I knew what I was seeing, and called one of my favorite pest inspectors to confirm.

Sure enough, we had a subterranean termite infestation. Not a wide-spread, but enough that the damage was evident, and without treatment they were likely to stick around and continue munching away!

Like most, we had no idea we had termites. We happened to be thinking about moving a painting, and when we took it down to try it in a new spot we noticed several “pinholes” in the drywall. I immediately thought “termites!”. Further research lead us to discover where the little guys were entering the structure….little “tubes” of dirt up the opposite wall, which in our case, was in the garage.

A quick professional inspection, which was free since we’re not selling our house, indicated the termites were limited to the garage, and treatment around the perimeter of the garage would be sufficient. A more aggressive course would have involved treatment around the entire perimeter of the house.

Our treatment with Frazier Pest Control cost $350. Again, the inspection was at no charge (normally it’s $75 if it’s for escrow - sale).

If you own a single family home in the desert, I highly encourage you to have a professional pest inspection for termites every five years or so. It’s worth the effort! Or, if you see evidence such as my description above, or “orange powdery” debris on the floor near the wall, call an inspector right away!

Frazier Termite has a good page on their site regarding termites, what they do, what to look for, etc, etc.

As a final word, if you’re considering selling your home, I always suggest completing a pest inspection prior to listing your home for sale. Let’s talk if you have questions.

Russell Hill/760.898.8399/russell@poolsidewithrussell.com /Homemart/DRE 1427657