What Your Termite Inspector Notices In The First 10 Minutes At Your Home
- Jameson Elam
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
About the Author: Jameson Elam is the owner and operator of Good Sense Termite, serving Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties. With over 14 years of hands-on experience in the termite control industry, Jameson specializes in thorough inspections, accurate diagnostics, and long-term solutions tailored to California homes. His deep knowledge of local termite behavior and building structures has made Good Sense Termite a trusted name for homeowners and real estate professionals alike.
The Inspection Starts Before We Even Knock
Most homeowners think the inspection starts when we open the crawlspace hatch or climb into the attic.
In reality, inspectors start forming a picture of your home the moment we pull up to the curb.
These first impressions are not about judging your housekeeping. They are quick clues about:
How water moves around your home
How the structure has aged
Where termites, fungus, and moisture problems are most likely to show up
This post walks through what a termite inspector usually notices in the first ten minutes, why those details matter, and how you can use the same logic to understand your own home.
Minute 1–2: Curb And Roofline
As we park and walk toward your home, we are already looking for:
Slope of the lot
Does water naturally flow away from the house, or does it sit near the foundation?
Roofline and gutters
Any obvious sagging or wave in the roof?
Do gutters look clean, or are there streaks and overflow stains?
Do downspouts carry water away from the structure, or dump it right at the base?
Why this matters:
Termites and fungus like homes where moisture hangs around foundations, steps, and lower walls.
Poor drainage and roof issues often show up later as problems in crawlspaces, wall framing, and subfloors.
If we see a flat yard with standing water after rain and dark streaks under every gutter, we already expect more moisture clues under the house.
Minute 3–4: Siding, Soil, And Hardscapes
As we walk the exterior, we pay close attention to where the structure meets the ground.
We look for:
Soil line
Is the soil clearly below the top of the foundation, or pushed up over it?
Is mulch, bark, or gravel pressed against stucco or siding?
Planter boxes and raised beds
Are they touching the structure?
Are they trapping moist soil against wood or stucco?
Concrete features
Patios, porches, stairs, and walkways that connect directly to the house
Cracks or gaps where concrete and walls meet
Why this matters:
High soil and planters against siding are classic access points for Subterranean termites.
Decks and slabs that tie into the house can hide damage and entry routes.
Cracks and gaps at the base of walls can be small, but they are big enough for insects.
These details help us decide which sides of the house deserve extra attention later when we look for tubes, damage, or high risk conditions.
Minute 5–6: Age Clues And Past Repairs
Still outside, we quietly start asking ourselves some questions:
How old does this home look?
Do we see different siding styles, rooflines, or window types that suggest additions or partial remodels?
Are there patches or repair lines on decks, fascia, siding, or trim?
Why this matters:
Certain construction eras in the Bay Area tend to have the same recurring issues with moisture, ventilation, and termite access.
Transitions between old and new work are common weak spots, especially where materials meet.
Repeat exterior repairs in the same location often match repeat issues inside.
For example, if we see a newer deck bolted to older stucco with several patched areas, we already know that connection point deserves a careful look.
Minute 7–8: First Steps Inside
Once we step inside, the focus shifts to how the house feels and behaves.
We pay attention to:
Floor feel
Do any areas feel soft, bouncy, or uneven underfoot?
Do different rooms on the same level feel noticeably different?
Smell and humidity
Is there a musty smell in certain rooms, closets, or lower levels?
Does the air feel damp in specific parts of the house?
Visible interior repairs
Fresh patches or caulk around baseboards and lower walls
Sections of trim or flooring that do not match the rest of the room
Why this matters:
Soft or uneven floors can line up with subfloor or framing damage from termites or fungus.
Musty smells suggest long term moisture, not just a recent spill.
Interior patchwork sometimes shows where old problems were covered but not fully solved.
We are not judging your decor. We are trying to understand what the structure has been through.
Minute 9–10: Questions That Fill In The Blanks
By this point, we have a rough picture in our heads. Then we start asking you questions to confirm or adjust it.
Common questions include:
Have you had any leaks in the bathrooms, kitchen, roof, or around windows?
Have any floors been repaired, leveled, or replaced before?
Have you done remodel work, or are you planning any soon?
Has this home ever had termite or fungus treatment that you know of?
Why this matters:
Your history fills in gaps that a visual check cannot cover.
Past leaks and repairs help us link what we see now with what has already happened.
Knowing about prior treatments helps us separate old damage from new activity.
The best inspections feel like a conversation. You know the daily life of the house. We know what different signs usually mean. Bringing those together gives you better answers.
Why This First 10 Minutes Matters For You
You can borrow this thought process even without a ladder or tools.
Ask yourself:
Where does water actually go when it rains?
Which side of the house stays wet or muddy the longest?
Are there rooms or corners that always smell a little musty?
Have the same doors, floors, or steps needed work more than once?
Those questions help you:
Decide which areas to keep an eye on.
Know what to point out during an inspection.
Understand why an inspector spends more time in some areas than others.
You do not have to see inside the walls to start listening to what your home is trying to tell you.
What Happens After The First 10 Minutes
Once that early mental map is in place, the deeper inspection focuses on the places most likely to hide real problems:
Crawlspaces or understructure
Attics or roof framing where they can be safely accessed
Specific rooms or exterior areas that lined up with early clues
We then look for:
Active termite activity and evidence of past infestation
Fungus and moisture related damage
Conditions that make future problems more likely
After that, we put everything together in a report with photos, clear notes, and recommendations that match what we saw.
For Bay Area homes that are not in active escrow, Good Sense Termite inspections are free. For homes in escrow, we offer fee based inspections that meet real estate and lender requirements.
FAQ: Termite Inspectors And First Impressions
Q: Does my yard or clutter change how you see my house?
Normal clutter is not a problem. What matters is whether we can safely reach key areas like the crawlspace hatch, attic access, and main exterior walls. If access is blocked, it limits what we can say in the report.
Q: Do you decide on treatment in the first ten minutes?
No. Those first minutes only tell us where to focus. Any treatment plan should come after we finish the full inspection and confirm what is actually going on.
Q: Can I walk around with the inspector during those first checks?
In most cases, yes, and it is often helpful. You can point out past issues as we go, and we can show you what we are seeing in real time.
Q: Is there anything I should do before you arrive to make the first part of the inspection easier?
If you can, clear a path to the crawlspace, attic access, and around the exterior walls. If you know about past leaks or repairs, have that information ready so we can ask better follow up questions.
Final Thoughts: Your Home Is Already Telling A Story
By the time you call for a termite inspection, your home has years of clues built into the roofline, soil, repairs, and small changes you have noticed.
A good inspector is not guessing. They are reading what is already there and connecting the dots.
If you want someone to read your home carefully and explain what they see in plain language, we are ready.
Schedule an inspection with Good Sense Termite. We will pay attention to the details, then turn them into a clear, realistic plan for your home.
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