Termite Inspection Cost in Sydney: What You Pay and Why

If you're pricing up a termite inspection in Sydney, here's the plain answer first. A termite and timber-pest inspection starts from $280 for a single-storey home and from $320 for a double-storey home. Those are starting figures, not a fixed quote. I price every job on the property, because a single-storey cottage on a small block and a double-storey home with three separate subfloor access points aren't the same amount of work, even though both get called “an inspection.”

This page is about the inspection fee only. If you want to know what a full treatment costs once termites are actually found, that's a separate number, covered in a companion guide on this site.

What the inspection fee actually covers

A termite inspection isn't a quick look around the outside of the house. I bring a thermal imaging camera and a moisture meter to every inspection, as standard, not as a paid extra. The thermal camera picks up temperature differences behind walls and in ceiling cavities that can point to hidden moisture or termite activity. The moisture meter checks timber and wall moisture content directly, which matters because moisture is the single biggest factor that draws termites toward a structure.

The inspection covers the roof void where it's safely accessible, the internal rooms, the subfloor where it can be reached, and the external perimeter, including the slab edge, gutters, downpipes and any timber sitting against soil. I check piers for ant capping, look for mud tubes on brick and timber, and note conditions like a buried slab edge or mulch sitting hard against the walls.

You get the written report on-site, before I leave the property. Not a follow-up email a day or two later. You know what I found, in your hand, before I've driven off.

Why the price moves between $280 and $320

The starting figures split on storeys because a double-storey home takes longer to inspect properly. There's more roof, more wall area, more external perimeter, and often a more complicated subfloor. From there, a few things move the number on the day.

Property size. A larger footprint, even on a single storey, takes more time to walk and check properly.

Subfloor access. A subfloor with a clear crawl height and open access points is faster to inspect than one that's tight, cluttered, or hard to get into at all.

Roof access. Where the roof void can be safely reached, it gets checked. Some roof designs make that harder, and that affects time on-site.

Condition and history. A property with a known history of termite activity, prior treatment, or several conducive conditions to work through takes longer than a straightforward walk-through.

I can't give you a firm number over the phone, for that reason. What I can tell you is the starting point, and that every homeowner gets the same scope: thermal imaging, moisture meter, a full walk of the property, and the written report before I leave.

Inspection cost versus treatment cost

These are two different numbers, and it's worth keeping them separate. The inspection, from $280 single-storey or $320 double-storey, tells you what's actually happening at the property right now. If termites are found and a chemical barrier is needed, that treatment is priced separately, and typically averages around $5,000, though it varies with the size of the house and how easy it is to access.

The two are never bundled. You're not paying for a treatment you might not need just to get an inspection done.

Common questions

Is the inspection fee the same as a pre-purchase inspection?
Yes. A pre-purchase termite and timber-pest inspection sits in the same pricing band. It covers termites, borers and decay fungi, with the report handed to you on-site before you need to make a decision on the property.

Do you charge extra for the thermal camera or moisture meter?
No. Both come standard on every inspection. They aren't optional add-ons priced separately.

Can I get an exact price before you arrive?
I can give you the starting figures on this page. The exact number depends on the property, so I confirm it when I book the job, based on storeys, size and access.

What happens if you find termites during the inspection?
I tell you on the spot, explain what's involved, and give you a separate written quote for treatment. Nothing gets actioned without you agreeing to it first.

Book an inspection

Call 0405 790 927 to book a termite and timber-pest inspection. I'll come out, inspect the property properly with thermal imaging and a moisture meter, and hand you the written report before I leave. From $280 single-storey, from $320 double-storey, priced on the property.