Most companies run ads when the phones are already ringing. By then, homeowners are calling whoever ranks first and booking whoever answers.
Pest control play · Termite season
Termite season marketing that books inspections before the first swarm.
When termites swarm, homeowners panic and call the first number they find. The companies that win termite work reach them weeks earlier. Spur finds older homes near greenbelts, creeks, and wooded lots, mails a free inspection offer before swarm season, and alerts you the moment an owner scans.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Gary Lindqvist6904 Bull Creek RdAustin, TX 78731Scan to book a free inspection
Gary L. scanned your termite inspection card · 8 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
Pre-swarmmail lands 4–6 weeks before local swarm season
Older homesnear greenbelts, creeks, and wooded lots
~$5Bin U.S. property damage from termites each year
The problem
Termite work goes to whoever is in front of the homeowner when the swarm hits.
A 2019 build with a pre-treat warranty gets the same card as a 1980s home backing onto a creek. Half the budget lands where the risk is low.
A free inspection with no follow-up is just a free inspection. Without a system, clean reports never turn into monitoring or protection plans.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a pressure map to booked inspections.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A termite season list in Spur
Sample Austin, TX homes near the Bull Creek greenbelt, built before 2000. Names are partly masked.
Zip 78731Single-familyOwner-occupiedBuilt before 2000Within 0.25 mi of greenbeltExclude customers
- Gary L.6904 Bull Creek RdBuilt 1984 · slabBacks greenbeltOwned 14 yrs
- Nadia & Tom C.4512 Ridge Oak DrBuilt 1979 · pier and beamCreek nearbyWood deck
- Phil A.6811 Mesa DrBuilt 1987 · slabMature oaksOwned 22 yrs
- Joyce M.4708 Balcones DrBuilt 1975 · pier and beamBacks greenbeltOwned 31 yrs
- Sam W.6620 Bull Creek RdBuilt 1991 · slabIrrigated bedsOwned 7 yrs
AI draft for Gary L. · 6904 Bull Creek Rd
SWARM SEASON ON BULL CREEK STARTS IN A FEW WEEKS.
Hi Gary, homes that back onto the Bull Creek greenbelt see subterranean termite swarms every spring, usually on the first warm days after a rain. Your home was built in 1984, so any original soil treatment is long gone.
We'll inspect your home for free before swarm season: the slab edge, door frames, garage, and any wood that touches soil. You'll get a written report with photos. If we find nothing, we'll tell you so and explain how monitoring works. If we find activity, we'll show you exactly where.
Scan the code to book a time in March.
Live Oak Pest Solutions · TPCL #0784412 · (512) 555-0168
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to market termite services before swarm season
Termites are the most valuable work in residential pest control. A liquid treatment or bait system install is a large ticket, and it usually comes with an annual renewal or monitoring plan that stays on the books for years. The National Pest Management Association estimates that termites cause about $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. each year, and the Insurance Information Institute notes that termite damage generally isn't covered by homeowners insurance. Homeowners pay attention when you explain both facts.
Timing is everything. Subterranean termite swarms are the moment most homeowners realize they have a problem, and they happen on a fairly predictable schedule: typically late winter to spring, often on warm days after rain. Formosan termites in Gulf Coast states tend to swarm later, on late-spring evenings. Mail four to six weeks before your local swarm season, so your card is on the counter when the first winged termites appear on a windowsill.
Target where the pressure is. Termites need moisture and wood, so homes near greenbelts, creeks, and wooded lots, homes with wood decks or pier-and-beam foundations, and homes with irrigated beds against the slab carry more risk. Older homes matter too: preconstruction soil treatments wear off over time, so homes built before 2000 without an active termite plan are strong prospects. Exclude current termite customers.
Lead with a free inspection, but plan the second step before the first card mails. An inspection with no follow-up is a cost. Whether you find activity or not, follow up with a written report and a clear protection plan offer, such as bait monitoring with an annual renewal or a liquid treatment with a warranty.
Check your state's rules. Structural pest control is licensed by state agencies, and some states require your license number on advertising. Avoid scare tactics; describe the risk plainly and let the inspection do the convincing.
26×return on a year of Spur Team from 6 termite treatments and 12 monitoring plans
One termite treatment pays for years of Spur.
- Spur Team: $588/yr, plus 1,000 termite cards × 2 touches = 2,000 postcards at $0.94 = $1,880
- 6 treatments at $1,800 + 12 monitoring plans at $375/yr = $15,300 in first-year revenue
- About 6× the software and postage combined, and the monitoring plans renew every year
Example math. Pricing, inspection-to-plan rates, and renewals vary by market. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual termite marketing approach
What you needThe usual waySpur
Homes near greenbelts and creeksEvery address on a route✓ Built in
Mailed before swarm seasonAds during the rush✓ Built in
Card naming the home's age and riskGeneric bug photo✓ Built in
Scan alerts to book inspectionsWaiting for the phone✓ Built in
Automatic plan offer after inspectionNo follow-up✓ Built in
From pest control operators using Spur
Results from the mailbox.
“I ran a termite campaign targeting homes within a half mile of a known active zone in my service area. Mailed 90 AI postcards with a QR to my free inspection page. Got 28 scan alerts in one week. Booked 19 inspections. Signed 14 on annual plans. That's over $5,000 in recurring annual revenue from one campaign.”
FAQ
Termite marketing questions
When is termite swarm season?
For subterranean termites in most of the U.S., late winter through spring, often on warm days after rain. Formosan termites in Gulf Coast states tend to swarm on late-spring evenings. Check local extension guidance for your area.
When should I mail termite inspection offers?
Four to six weeks before swarms usually start in your area, with a second card two weeks later, so your offer is in hand when homeowners first see swarmers.
Which homes should I target for termite marketing?
Owner-occupied homes built before 2000 near greenbelts, creeks, and wooded lots, especially those with wood decks, pier-and-beam foundations, or irrigated beds against the slab. Exclude current termite customers.
How do I turn free termite inspections into plans?
Give every homeowner a written report with photos, then follow up with a clear protection plan offer whether or not you found activity. Spur can send that follow-up automatically.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Generally no. The Insurance Information Institute notes that termite damage is usually considered preventable and isn't covered, which is a fair point to make in your marketing.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Be the termite company they already know when the swarm hits.
Map the termite-pressure homes in your area and mail your first pre-swarm card this week. Free to start.
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