What to Do If You Find Termites in Your Home

Step 1: Stop and Breathe

Finding termites is alarming, but don't panic. What you do in the next 48 hours matters more than the next 48 minutes. The termites have likely been there for months or years — a few more days won't change the damage. What will matter is whether you preserve your legal rights before the pest control company has a chance to cover their tracks.

Step 2: Do NOT Call Your Pest Control Company Yet

This is counterintuitive, but it's the most important advice we can give. Do not immediately call your pest control company. Here's why:

When you report termites, the company enters "damage control" mode — not for your home, but for their liability. Their first instinct is to:

• Send a technician to perform a "remedial treatment" that destroys evidence of the original failure
• Offer you a quick settlement (usually a few thousand dollars) in exchange for signing a release
• Claim the damage is "recent" or "minor" before any independent assessment

Step 3: Document Everything

Before anyone touches anything, create a thorough record:

Step 4: Find Your Contract

Your termite protection contract is the single most important document in a potential case. It establishes:

• What the company promised to do — full treatment, annual inspections, monitoring
• How long they've been responsible — years of premiums = years of obligation
• What type of treatment was contracted — liquid barrier, bait stations, or both
• Any damage repair or retreat obligations the company agreed to

If you can't find the original contract, that's okay. Your attorney can obtain it through discovery. But if you have renewal notices, payment receipts, or inspection reports, gather those too.

Step 5: Consult a Termite Damage Attorney

Before you do anything else — before calling the pest control company, before getting repair estimates, before accepting any offers — talk to an attorney who specializes in termite damage litigation.

A specialized attorney will:

• Evaluate whether you have a viable case at no cost
• Advise you on how to handle communications with the pest control company
• Arrange for an independent inspection by a licensed entomologist
• Get independent repair estimates from contractors with no ties to the pest control company
• Protect your rights before the statute of limitations expires

Step 6: Get an Independent Inspection

Your attorney will typically arrange for an independent entomologist to inspect your home. This is different from the pest control company's inspector because:

• They have no financial interest in minimizing the damage
• They can determine how long the infestation has been active
• They can identify where the treatment failed
• Their report is admissible as expert testimony in court

Understanding Your Legal Rights in Mississippi

Mississippi law provides strong protections for homeowners who have been failed by pest control companies. You may be entitled to recover:

• Cost of repairs — structural, cosmetic, and associated (plumbing, electrical)
• Diminished property value — even after repairs, a history of termite damage affects resale
• Loss of use — costs of temporary housing if repairs require you to leave
• Emotional distress — the stress of living with and discovering damage
• Punitive damages — if the company's conduct was willful, fraudulent, or grossly negligent