Jets Pest Control · Straight Answers
Annual inspections: necessary, or upsell?
Pest controllers say you need a termite inspection every year. Pest controllers also sell termite inspections. Here's what Australian Standard AS 3660.2, the QBCC and CSIRO data actually say — so you can decide for yourself.
Book an inspection · 1300 566 569The honest answer
Yes — and it's not us saying it
We sell termite inspections, which makes us the wrong people to simply trust on this. So here are the sources that don't profit from your booking.
Australian Standard AS 3660.2:2017 recommends inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and every 3 to 6 months in high-risk areas. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission tells homeowners the same. And CSIRO's Termite Tally — a survey of more than 5,100 Australian homes — found around 1 in 5 had experienced termite damage, with risk rising with a home's age and location.
Southeast Queensland's warm, humid climate and established subterranean termite populations — particularly Coptotermes acinaciformis, the most destructive species in Australia — put Brisbane and Ipswich firmly in the high-risk category. The honest answer for our region isn't just 'yes, annually'. The Standard says homes here justify more frequent checks, not fewer.
Why does an annual inspection actually matter?
Three facts explain the logic. First, termites are hidden by design. They can enter a structure through a 2 mm gap in a concrete slab and feed inside wall cavities, roof timbers and subfloor framing for months while showing none of the visible signs homeowners typically look for. Mud tubes, damaged skirting boards and hollow-sounding timbers only appear once the colony is well established and damage is already done.
Second, damage compounds. A colony found at three months and one found at 30 months represent dramatically different repair bills. Structural repairs to roof framing, wall studs or flooring joists can run into the tens of thousands of dollars — and that work accumulates silently while you're going about your day.
Third, that bill is yours. Home insurance in Australia generally excludes termite damage. Insurers treat it as a maintenance issue, not an insurable event. There is no policy to claim on and no government scheme to cover the difference. An annual inspection is how you cap the maximum time a colony can feed undetected at 12 months, rather than however long it takes you to notice something's wrong.
If your home has a Termidor chemical barrier, annual inspections aren't optional — they're a warranty condition. BASF's $2 Million Termidor Assurance Warranty is only extended for a further 12 months after each inspection by a licensed applicator. Skip a year and the warranty lapses on a system you paid thousands to install. You'd still have the barrier in the ground, but you'd have no manufacturer coverage behind it.
When is annual not enough?
AS 3660.2's 3 to 6 month recommendation applies to higher-risk situations. Consider shortening your inspection interval if any of these describe your property:
- Previous termite activity on the property, or active colonies confirmed nearby.
- Bushland, large gum trees, tree stumps or timber retaining walls close to the structure.
- An older home — the CSIRO data links property age directly with attack likelihood.
- Persistent moisture: leaking taps, poor drainage, subfloor condensation, or air conditioning runoff pooling against the slab.
- Construction features that hide termite entry points, such as low-set decks, filled patios flush with the wall, or rendered external walls running to ground level.
- A property in a suburb with known termite pressure — many areas of Ipswich, Springfield, Ripley and Brisbane's western suburbs fit this description.
What does a proper inspection actually include?
An AS 3660.2 inspection is not someone with a torch having a quick look under the house. A thorough inspection covers the building interior (every accessible room, built-in cupboards and wet areas), the exterior perimeter, the roof void, the subfloor, and the surrounding grounds out to the property boundary.
At Jets Pest Control, inspections use FLIR thermal imaging to detect temperature anomalies behind walls, Termatrac radar to locate termite movement without drilling, and Tramex moisture meters to identify timber moisture that indicates either active termites or conditions that attract them. The written report — prepared after the inspection and emailed to you — documents any activity, damage, evidence of previous treatments, and the conducive conditions that should be addressed to reduce your risk.
No visual inspection can guarantee a property is termite-free. Termites may be active in areas that are inaccessible — inside a sealed wall cavity, under a concreted area, or deep in subfloor framing that can't be safely entered. Anyone who 'guarantees' a clear result after a visual inspection is overpromising. What an inspection does is dramatically shorten the window in which activity can go unnoticed and unreported.
What does skipping an inspection actually cost?
Run the numbers honestly. Annual inspections for a decade cost roughly $2,850 at today's prices for a standard house. Skipping them saves that — unless a colony establishes itself in year two and feeds undisturbed until you happen to notice something wrong.
At that point you're looking at an eradication treatment from $760, likely a Termidor HE barrier from $3,300 to $6,600, and structural repairs to framing, flooring or lining that insurance won't cover. The CSIRO's 1 in 5 figure isn't a scare statistic — it's the measured base rate for Australian homes. Southeast Queensland sits at the higher-risk end of that national picture.
For a full breakdown of what treatment costs at each stage, see our termite treatment cost guide.
Inspections only (no active colony found)
10 years of annual inspections at $285: approximately $2,850. The peace of mind that any colony is caught within 12 months of establishment.
No inspections — colony found early (by chance)
Eradication from $760, barrier from $3,300, minor structural repairs. Total exposure: $5,000–$10,000+, with no warranty on the eradication treatment.
No inspections — colony found late
Eradication, barrier, and significant structural repairs to framing, flooring or ceilings. Total exposure: $15,000–$60,000+ depending on extent. Home insurance generally does not cover termite damage.
Frequently asked questions
Are annual termite inspections just a pest control industry racket?
It's a fair question to ask. But the annual recommendation comes from Australian Standard AS 3660.2 and the QBCC, not from pest controllers. In high-risk areas like Southeast Queensland, the Standard actually recommends inspections more frequently than most companies push — every 3 to 6 months. That's not an industry invention; it's a response to the termite species and climate conditions that genuinely exist here.
My house is new. Do I still need annual termite inspections?
Yes. New Queensland homes are built with a termite management system installed to AS 3660.1, but every system — physical barrier, chemical barrier or reticulation — relies on regular inspections to confirm it's performing as intended. Most system warranties also require annual inspections as a condition of coverage. New homes carry lower risk than older ones, but they're not immune, particularly as the surrounding soil settles and landscaping changes after construction.
What happens if I skip a year?
Practically speaking, nothing happens if you're lucky and no colony is active. But you extend the maximum undetected feeding window from 12 months to however long it takes you to notice something wrong. If you have a Termidor barrier, the $2 Million Assurance Warranty also lapses — it's only renewed following each annual inspection by a licensed applicator. Missing one year voids coverage for that period.
What's the difference between an annual inspection and a pre-purchase timber pest inspection?
An annual inspection follows AS 3660.2 and is designed to monitor an existing home for subterranean termite activity. A timber pest inspection (AS 4349.3) is the broader report used when buying a property — it covers subterranean termites, wood borers, fungal decay and other timber defects. Timber pest inspections cost from $285 to $485 depending on property size. If you've recently bought a home and had a pre-purchase inspection, that counts as your baseline — schedule your next one within 12 months of that date.
How much does an annual termite inspection cost in Ipswich or Brisbane?
Jets Pest Control charges from $285 for a standard 1 to 4 bedroom house, including GST and a written report. The full range: $185 for an apartment, $235 for a townhouse, $285 for a standard house, $335 for a 5 bedroom property, and $385 for a 6 bedroom or larger home. A 10% discount applies for Seniors, Pensioners and ADF members on their principal place of residence. See our full pricing page for current rates.
When was your last one?
Put a date on it.
If it's been more than 12 months — or you've never had one — book an AS 3660.2 inspection with a licensed local specialist. Fixed prices, written report, all Ipswich and Brisbane suburbs.
