A wood-destroying insect inspection in Virginia generally runs $65 to $200, depending on region and property size. Under a loan-program requirement it often runs lower — commonly $75 to $150. Treatment is a separate service at a separate price: typically $500 to $2,000, rising to $2,000–$5,000 and beyond where damage is extensive. Structural repair is a third cost, quoted by a contractor rather than a pest control firm.
These are published ranges, not quotes. Prices vary by company, region, property size, and access. Get a written quote for your property.
Three separate costs, routinely confused
This is the single most useful thing on this page. People ask "what does a termite inspection cost" and receive an answer about treatment, or budget for treatment and get surprised by repair.
| What | Who does it | Typical Virginia range |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection and report | licensed pest control firm | $65–$200 |
| Treatment | licensed pest control firm | $500–$2,000 typical; $2,000–$5,000+ extensive |
| Structural repair | general contractor | quoted by scope; often the largest of the three |
A company that quotes one number covering inspection and treatment together is quoting something other than what a sales contract requires. The contract wants a report; the report determines whether treatment is warranted.
What drives the inspection price
Property size and layout. More square footage and more separate structures take longer.
Foundation type. A full crawl space inspection takes considerably longer than a slab.
Access. A sealed crawl space, a finished basement, or stored belongings along the perimeter either extend the visit or produce a report full of exclusions.
Region. Northern Virginia pricing sits above rural parts of the state, consistent with everything else there.
Whether the report form is included. Ask explicitly. Some firms price the visit and bill the completed form separately.
What drives the treatment price
Method. Liquid soil treatment and baiting systems differ in price and in what happens afterwards — baiting typically involves ongoing monitoring, which is a recurring cost rather than a one-time one.
Linear footage. Liquid treatment is largely priced by the perimeter to be trenched and treated.
Foundation type and obstacles. Slab work may require drilling; attached patios, walkways, and additions increase complexity.
Extent of activity. A single localized area costs less than a structure with activity on multiple elevations.
Whether a warranty is attached. A treatment with an ongoing bond costs more than treatment alone, and the difference buys a contract, not better chemistry.
What drives the repair price
Nothing about pest control. This is carpentry.
The variables are which structural elements are affected — sill plate, rim joist, floor joists, subfloor, studs — how much must be opened up to reach them, and whether anything is load-bearing. Cost rises quickly once framing is involved.
This is why the seller's obligation under the standard Northern Virginia contract matters more than people assume. The contract puts both treatment and repair of the damage identified in the report on the seller. Treatment is a predictable number; repair is not.
Who pays
Under the standard Northern Virginia sales contract: the seller furnishes the report at the seller's expense, and pays for treatment and for repair of damage identified in the report.
Under a loan program: it is negotiable. Since June 2022, VA borrowers are permitted to pay the inspection fee — previously they were not.
Under an "as is" purchase: nobody owes you anything. If you want an inspection, you order it and you pay for it.
On a refinance: you pay. There is no seller.
Where the money is actually at risk
Not in the inspection. At $65 to $200 it is the cheapest information in a real estate transaction, and skipping it to save that amount is the poorest trade available.
The risk sits in what the inspection cannot see. A clean report covers accessible areas only. If the obstructions section lists a sealed crawl space or a finished basement, the areas most likely to carry damage were never examined.
Paying a few hundred dollars to gain access to an excluded area — moving stored items, opening a crawl space hatch, removing a section of panelling — is trivial against a structural repair.
Ongoing costs people forget
Re-inspection after treatment. Sometimes included, sometimes billed separately. Ask before booking.
Re-inspection because closing slipped. The report is generally good for about 90 days. A delayed settlement can require a new one.
Bond renewal. A termite bond carries an annual renewal. Ask the amount and what it covers before assuming the first-year price continues.
Monitoring on baiting systems. Baiting is a program, not an event. Ask what the ongoing service costs and for how long.
Where you stand, by role
If you are selling
The report is a small cost; the repair obligation is not, and it is the one that can move your settlement date.
Your action: get the inspection early, and if damage is found get the repair quote before the treatment quote — repair scheduling is what actually threatens the timeline.
If you are buying
The report is being paid for by someone else under the standard contract, which means it was ordered by someone else.
Your action: if the obstructions section excludes an area you care about, pay for your own inspection of that area. It is the highest-value few hundred dollars in the transaction.
If you are buying "as is"
Nobody is obligated to look.
Your action: budget $65–$200 for your own inspection inside the contingency period, and treat it as a decision cost rather than an optional extra.
If you already own the home
No contract, no program, no deadline — just a maintenance question.
Your action: if you are pricing a treatment, get quotes on the same method. A liquid quote and a baiting quote are not comparable numbers.
Common misunderstandings
"The inspection and the treatment are one price." They are separate services from the same trade.
"The seller pays for everything termite-related." The obligation attaches to what the report identifies.
"The cheapest inspection is the same as the expensive one." The variable is time spent and access gained, and both show up in the obstructions section.
"A bond is included." A warranty or bond is a separate contract with its own price and renewal.
"Repair is a pest control cost." It is a contractor cost, usually the largest of the three.
"Baiting is cheaper." The initial figure may be lower; the monitoring is ongoing. Compare total cost over the term.
What to ask before booking
- Does the price include the completed report form?
- What is your treatment price, quoted separately from the inspection?
- Is re-inspection after treatment included or billed separately?
- Liquid or baiting — and what is the total cost over the first three years for each?
- What does a warranty or bond cost, what does it cover, and what does renewal cost?
- Do you perform structural repair, or is that a separate contractor?
- Under what name is your Virginia pesticide business license held?
What to have ready before you call
Property address, square footage, foundation type, number of structures, settlement date if applicable, whether any area is inaccessible, and whether you already have a report showing a finding.
Frequently asked questions
Why do quotes vary so much? Property size, foundation type, access, and whether the report form and re-inspection are included.
Is a free inspection real? Sometimes offered by companies that also sell treatment. A free visit that does not produce a completed report form will not satisfy a sales contract or a lender.
Does homeowners insurance cover any of this? Standard policies generally exclude termite damage as a maintenance issue. Read your policy rather than assuming.
How much does an annual bond cost? It varies widely by company and coverage. Ask for the renewal amount in writing before the first payment, not after.
Can I negotiate? Treatment pricing has room in it, particularly on method and warranty terms. Inspection pricing usually does not — it is an hour of a licensed person's time.
Verify before you pay anyone
VDACS publishes an updated list of licensed pesticide businesses weekly, with a public lookup for confirming an active Pesticide Business License. Wood-destroying pest control is category 7b under 2VAC5-685-70.
Ask which name the license is held under — trade names often differ from the licensed entity.
VPMA maintains a directory of inspectors holding its voluntary WDI certification.