Another Good Termite Year

Last year was the second termite season of the pandemic, and it proved to be another money maker for most pest control companies.

“The term I would use to describe it is excellent,” said Jaime Vasquez, owner of Matador Pest Control in Port St. Lucie, Fla., speaking of his 2021 termite control revenue. “The calls were coming in,” he said.

Troy Hook was “ecstatic” with the growth of termite revenue at Green Flash Pest and Termite Control in Vista, Calif. It rose from nearly $1 million in 2020 to $1.6 million last year, with only three termite inspectors. “I have an amazing crew,” said Hook, the company’s termite service manager.

In fact, 56 percent of pest management professionals said the percentage of revenue generated from termite control services at their location increased somewhat or significantly in the past three years, according to the PCT 2022 State of the Termite Control Market survey. The survey was sponsored by BASF and compiled by Readex Research, an independent research firm.

Nearly half (49 percent) of PMPs said termite-related service calls increased significantly or somewhat compared to 2020, and 34 percent said termite control was more significant today to the company’s bottom line than in the past five years.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive effect on termite control, reported 26 percent of PMPs, and 71 percent agreed customers became more aware of termite issues sooner because they spent more time at home.

“It seems like people were home more and they were noticing termite problems, and we’re getting a lot more calls for post-type treatments,” agreed Bill Trott, owner of Bill’s Pest & Termite Control in Phoenix, Ariz.

On average, termite work accounted for 25.2 percent of overall company revenue last year or about $353,000, up from $337,000 in 2020.

The red-hot real estate market helped, reported PMPs in follow-up interviews. Bill’s Pest & Termite Control saw revenue tied to lender-required termite inspections for refinancing increase 30 percent last year.

National Exterminating in Newport News, Va., wrote about 50 termite/moisture letters a week. It encouraged real estate agents to schedule pre-sale inspections before homes hit the market so fungus, termite or moisture issues could be addressed early to avoid closing delays.

But the company had trouble sourcing some products, notably poly sheeting for crawlspace moisture barriers. “I have not run out, but I’ve had to do bulk buying; I’ve had to really plan to make sure that we didn’t run out, and there’s been some very close calls,” said Scott Monds, National’s general manager.

Chemical products weren’t as readily available for pickup as in the past for Black Diamond Pest Control, Louisville, Ky. “We have had to adjust and had to keep more in stock to deal with the supply chain issues,” said Termite Manager Brandon Tarrant.