Termite control starts with knowing what is there. Our certified inspectors in West Des Moines document every finding — active activity, past damage, conducive conditions, and recommended treatment options with pricing — before you decide anything.
Call +1-866-315-0243 — Schedule InspectionFour things that make a Show Me Pest Control termite inspection in West Des Moines worth scheduling before any treatment decision.
We produce inspection reports that serve a real purpose — not a one-page checklist. Findings are documented with photographs and location notes, formatted for use by your realtor, lender, or attorney.
Your treatment recommendation is based on what species is present and where. We identify first, then explain your options with itemized pricing — you choose the approach that fits your situation and budget.
Our inspection reports are formatted for use in residential sale transactions, FSBO listings, refinancing, and estate settlements. A Show Me Pest Control inspection report in West Des Moines names the inspector, the license number, the findings, and the treatment recommendations in a format lenders and title companies accept.
A treatment warranty that transfers with the property is a selling point, not just a service benefit. Our warranties move with the home — the new owner inherits the coverage documentation without paying for a new setup.
Every Show Me Pest Control termite inspection in West Des Moines produces a written report with findings, photographs, and itemized treatment options. The document is yours to keep regardless of whether you proceed with treatment.
Three species account for most structural termite damage in West Des Moines, IA, and each one requires a different response. Subterranean termites enter structures at the soil-to-wood interface, building mud tubes across foundation surfaces to access framing above grade. Drywood termites require no soil contact, colonizing wood members directly and leaving characteristic frass piles near kick-out holes. Formosan termites are subterranean but operate at a different scale — larger colonies, faster spread, and greater structural consequence when left unaddressed. A certified inspector confirms which species is present before treatment is discussed, because misidentifying the species leads to applying the wrong method.
Identifying termite evidence before it becomes structural damage is the purpose of a scheduled inspection — not a reactive call. The signs that most homeowners in West Des Moines miss before calling: swarmer wings near window frames in late winter and spring; mud tubes on foundation exterior that resemble dried dirt streaks; hollow-sounding floor framing detected by tapping with a probe; frass deposits, which look like fine sand or coffee grounds, near baseboards or beneath furniture in contact with wood framing; and bubbling or slightly raised paint near sills or door frames. A certified inspector looks for all of these specifically because they can be present without obvious visible damage.
Think you might have termite activity in West Des Moines? Call +1-866-315-0243. Same-week inspection scheduling available in West Des Moines.
The inspection workflow at Show Me Pest Control follows a consistent sequence regardless of the property type. The inspector arrives with a moisture meter, probe, and flashlight at minimum — these tools help detect activity in areas that show no surface evidence. The exterior inspection covers the full foundation perimeter, all utility and pipe entry points, attached structures, and visible wood-to-soil contacts. The interior inspection covers subfloor access points, visible framing in crawl spaces and basements, attic framing if accessible, and any interior walls or structural members showing surface irregularities. Moisture meter readings at suspect areas help differentiate active moisture-driven wood damage from termite activity. All findings are documented during the inspection with photographs and location notes. The written report is the output: it identifies what was found, where it was found, whether activity appears active or historical, what conducive conditions were observed, and what the inspector recommends as treatment options — priced by option before you decide anything.
Understanding the treatment options before committing to one is part of what the written report is designed to enable. A liquid soil barrier involves trenching or drilling and injecting termiticide into the soil at the foundation perimeter, creating a chemical zone that kills termites crossing it and, with some formulations, transfers the product back to the colony. It is appropriate for active subterranean infestations and for preventive treatment where evidence of conducive conditions is found. A bait station network involves installing in-ground stations around the perimeter that contain a slow-acting bait; termites find the stations, feed on the bait, and carry it back to the colony where it suppresses reproduction. The bait approach takes longer to achieve colony suppression but involves minimal property disturbance and no interior drilling. Wood injection is a direct treatment for localized drywood colonies, involving injection of insecticide into affected wood members at the point of activity. Fumigation — tent fumigation using sulfuryl fluoride gas — is appropriate when a drywood infestation has spread through multiple structural members and localized treatment is not sufficient. Show Me Pest Control presents each applicable option with cost and expected timeline, and the choice is yours.
Real estate termite inspections in West Des Moines are most useful when they happen early in the process, not as a last-minute requirement. A seller who schedules the inspection before listing arrives at negotiation with documentation — either a clean clearance report or a completed treatment warranty — that removes the uncertainty a buyer's inspector might otherwise introduce. Lenders in most conventional mortgage transactions require documentation of termite inspection; having a current Show Me Pest Control report on hand shortens the closing timeline and demonstrates due diligence. The transferable treatment warranty means the buyer inherits the coverage without initiating a new service relationship, which is a meaningful benefit that experienced buyers and their agents understand.
From the initial certified inspection to annual renewal, every service is built around documentation and the actual findings at your property.
Our West Des Moines termite inspection produces a complete written report at the time of the visit. Every finding is photographed and documented, active activity is distinguished from historical evidence, and treatment options are presented with cost before you commit to anything.
Termiticide injected into the soil at the foundation perimeter creates a treated zone that kills subterranean termites on contact and — with certain product formulations — transfers the active ingredient back to the colony. Appropriate for active infestations and for preventive treatment in identified risk zones.
Monitoring and bait stations installed at intervals around the property perimeter contain an active ingredient that foraging termites carry back to the colony. Over time, colony suppression occurs without soil injection or interior treatment.
Tent fumigation using sulfuryl fluoride gas is the appropriate response when drywood termite activity has spread broadly through a structure and localized treatment cannot address the full extent. The process requires temporary relocation and preparation; Show Me Pest Control coordinates the full scope in West Des Moines.
Wood injection addresses the colony at its location within the structural member. Injection ports are placed at points identified by the inspection, and product is delivered directly into the affected wood. Appropriate for early or limited-scope drywood infestations.
An annual inspection renews your treatment warranty, maintains the documented service record, and catches any new activity before it advances. For property managers, real estate investors, and homeowners in West Des Moines who want a maintained inspection record, the annual program provides scheduled service and ongoing documentation.
Every step moves toward the same outcome: a written record you can act on.
Call +1-866-315-0243 and confirm a same-week or next-week appointment in West Des Moines. Let us know if the inspection is for real estate, a concern you have noticed, or a routine scheduled check.
The inspector covers the full property using tools that detect activity below visible surfaces: moisture meter readings, wood probing, and thorough flashlight examination of crawl space, framing, and foundation surfaces.
You receive the written report before any treatment is scheduled. It includes the inspector's name and license number, the date, all findings with photographs, and treatment options with cost for each applicable approach.
Treatment follows your review and approval of the written options. On completion, the warranty is issued in your name, with transfer paperwork ready for the time of sale. Annual renewal visits maintain coverage and the service record.
Homeowners, buyers, and property managers in West Des Moines describe what the inspection process delivered.
Ten days before closing and our realtor found termite swarmers in the master bedroom window. I assumed we were looking at a delayed closing or worse. Show Me Pest Control came the day after I called, found a subterranean colony at one foundation corner, completed treatment before the rescheduled lender walkthrough, and provided the documentation the lender required. We closed. Having the written report and treatment warranty in hand is what made it possible.
Twelve years between inspections and nothing looked wrong inside the house. The inspector found historical evidence in the crawl space — fully inactive — and two fresh mud tubes behind the back wall foundation that were completely hidden from normal view. The fact that we found and treated those tubes before they developed further is why there is no structural damage to discuss. I now schedule the annual renewal without fail.
After a costly and entirely preventable termite situation at one of my rentals, I moved all fourteen units to annual inspections with Show Me Pest Control. The written service records simplify lender conversations, the annual inspection catches issues before they become structural, and in three years we have had two early-stage finds that were treated cheaply under warranty. I should have done this from the start of owning the portfolio.
The most reliable way to know whether you have termites is a certified inspection by a licensed inspector who uses a probe, moisture meter, and systematic property walkthrough to document what is actually present. Signs that indicate you should schedule one: swarmer wings near windows or doors in spring; mud tubes on the foundation exterior; hollow-sounding wood when probed or tapped; frass deposits near baseboards; paint irregularities near door and window frames. Call +1-866-315-0243 and we will schedule an inspection in West Des Moines.
The inspection covers the exterior foundation line from end to end, all utility penetrations and pipe entry points, any visible wood-to-soil contact, crawl space and subfloor framing if accessible, attic framing if accessible, and interior areas identified as warranting closer inspection based on the exterior findings. The moisture meter identifies elevated moisture readings in wall and floor areas that do not show surface evidence. All findings are documented in the written report issued at the time of the inspection.
The timeline depends on the treatment method. Liquid soil barrier treatment can typically be scheduled and completed within a few days of the inspection and report review. Bait station installation can happen in a single visit after treatment approval. Wood injection for a localized drywood infestation can also typically be scheduled within the same week as the inspection. Fumigation requires more preparation time from the property owner and is generally scheduled at least a week out to allow for the required preparation steps. Show Me Pest Control gives you a specific timeline estimate as part of the written treatment options.
The main practical differences between bait stations and liquid barrier: application method (drilling and injection vs. in-ground stations); timeline to colony suppression (barrier is faster-acting; bait takes longer but works continuously); property disturbance (barrier involves trenching or drilling; bait involves only digging shallow station holes); ongoing program (bait stations require monitoring visits included in the program fee; barrier treatment is typically a one-time application with a warranty). Both are appropriate for subterranean termites. The conditions found in the inspection determine which is the better fit.
The transferable warranty is a documented selling point. When you sell, the buyer receives the warranty paperwork, the treatment history, and the records of any inspections performed during your ownership. This documentation is what lenders look for in conventional financing and what buyers' agents will note as added value. Show Me Pest Control coordinates the transfer — the seller does not have to manage it independently.
Annual inspections are the standard recommendation for properties in West Des Moines, IA, particularly in areas with established subterranean termite pressure. An annual inspection renews your treatment warranty, maintains the documented service record, and allows the inspector to detect new activity at an early stage when treatment is less invasive and less costly. Properties that have had past activity, properties with crawl spaces or significant wood-to-soil contact, and investment properties benefit most from the maintained annual record. Real estate transactions and refinancing often require a current inspection, and maintaining an annual schedule means you always have a current report available.
Whether you are buying, selling, or maintaining a property in West Des Moines, the certified inspection from Show Me Pest Control gives you a document you can act on. Call +1-866-315-0243 to schedule.
Show Me Pest Control provides certified termite inspection and control services throughout West Des Moines and across West Des Moines, IA. Residential, investment, and commercial properties served. Call +1-866-315-0243 to confirm availability and schedule an inspection in your area.
