DUSKIN Terminix Conducts Survey on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures"
DUSKIN Terminix conducted a survey targeting 1,015 homeowners of detached houses over 10 years old to understand the realities of home maintenance and termite control. Findings reveal that while creaking floors are common, many attribute issues to aging rather than pest damage, and over 20% have experienced termite damage, often discovered late.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:12 (40 min after Collected)
DUSKIN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Suita City, Osaka; President: Hiroyuki Okubo), operating the Terminix business (pest control and integrated hygiene management), conducted a survey on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures" targeting 1,015 residents of detached houses over 10 years old.
To live comfortably in one's important home for a long time, regular maintenance is essential. However, the "underfloor," where termite damage is prone to occur, is not visible in daily life, making it a difficult place to notice damage.
This time, DUSKIN Terminix conducted a survey targeting residents of detached houses over 10 years old on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures" to investigate the necessity of house maintenance and termite control.
■Survey Highlights
●"Creaking floors" most common house defect. About 70% recognize the cause as "aging deterioration."
・The most concerning defect is "floors creaking or feeling soft/sinking."
・About 70% answered that the cause was "aging deterioration," indicating that pest damage such as termites is less likely to be recognized as a cause.
●About 20% have "experience with termite damage." Discovery triggered by "flying termites" or "floor abnormalities."
・About 20% answered that they have experienced termite damage in the past.
・The top triggers for noticing damage were "seeing flying termites" and "floors starting to creak," indicating that damage is often noticed only after visible defects appear.
●About 40% "never thought about" the risk of damage. The reason: "never seen them before."
・The most common answer regarding termite damage to their own home was "never thought about it." Only about 20% answered "it's okay because I'm taking measures."
・The most common reason for thinking the possibility of damage is low was "never seen them before," clearly indicating that the characteristic of damage progressing in unseen areas like underfloors is not sufficiently understood.
●"Don't know" is the most common answer for the appropriate timing for termite control.
・"Don't know" was the most common answer regarding the appropriate timing for countermeasures, suggesting that measures tend to be reactive, taken "after feeling a defect."
●Importance of "clear pricing" and "free inspection" when choosing a contractor. Excessive sales tactics are avoided.
・Key points for contractor selection are "clear pricing system," "provision of free estimates/inspections," and "polite and prompt service."
※Pests: General term for insects and arthropods that cause damage to human life, crops, and living environments (e.g., cockroaches, termites, aphids, mites, etc.).
■Survey Overview
【Survey Name】 Survey on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures"
【Survey Period】 April 7 (Tue) to April 8 (Wed), 2026
【Survey Method】 Internet survey provided by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)
【Number of Respondents】 1,015 people
【Target Respondents】 Men and women who responded that they live in a detached house over 10 years old at the time of the survey.
【Survey Source】 DUSKIN Co., Ltd. (https://www.duskin.jp/terminix/)
【Monitor Provider】 Sacrisa
■Survey Results
"Creaking floors" most common house defect. About 70% recognize the cause as "aging deterioration."
When asked about what applies to their own home or what they are concerned about (defects), the most common answer was "floors creaking or feeling soft/sinking" (22.2%), followed by "difficulty opening and closing doors and windows" (18.7%) and "cracks in the foundation or exterior walls" (16.9%).
The top answers are all physical changes related to the structure and framework of the house. From these results, it is considered that "visual/sensory changes" such as discomfort felt in daily life and cracks are easily recognized as defects in one's home.
When respondents who answered that they had some "applicable or concerning issues (defects)" were asked what they thought caused the defects, the most common answer was "aging deterioration" (74.2%), followed by "damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes" (28.1%) and "damage from pests such as termites" (22.1%). "Aging deterioration" accounted for an overwhelming majority of about 70%, indicating that many people perceive house defects as "natural changes due to the passage of time." On the other hand, a certain number of people suspected specific external factors such as "natural disasters" and "termites and other pests."
About 20% answered that they had experienced termite damage in the past! What was the trigger for noticing the damage?
When asked if they had ever experienced termite damage, about 20% answered "yes" (19.5%).
To live comfortably in one's important home for a long time, regular maintenance is essential. However, the "underfloor," where termite damage is prone to occur, is not visible in daily life, making it a difficult place to notice damage.
This time, DUSKIN Terminix conducted a survey targeting residents of detached houses over 10 years old on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures" to investigate the necessity of house maintenance and termite control.
■Survey Highlights
●"Creaking floors" most common house defect. About 70% recognize the cause as "aging deterioration."
・The most concerning defect is "floors creaking or feeling soft/sinking."
・About 70% answered that the cause was "aging deterioration," indicating that pest damage such as termites is less likely to be recognized as a cause.
●About 20% have "experience with termite damage." Discovery triggered by "flying termites" or "floor abnormalities."
・About 20% answered that they have experienced termite damage in the past.
・The top triggers for noticing damage were "seeing flying termites" and "floors starting to creak," indicating that damage is often noticed only after visible defects appear.
●About 40% "never thought about" the risk of damage. The reason: "never seen them before."
・The most common answer regarding termite damage to their own home was "never thought about it." Only about 20% answered "it's okay because I'm taking measures."
・The most common reason for thinking the possibility of damage is low was "never seen them before," clearly indicating that the characteristic of damage progressing in unseen areas like underfloors is not sufficiently understood.
●"Don't know" is the most common answer for the appropriate timing for termite control.
・"Don't know" was the most common answer regarding the appropriate timing for countermeasures, suggesting that measures tend to be reactive, taken "after feeling a defect."
●Importance of "clear pricing" and "free inspection" when choosing a contractor. Excessive sales tactics are avoided.
・Key points for contractor selection are "clear pricing system," "provision of free estimates/inspections," and "polite and prompt service."
※Pests: General term for insects and arthropods that cause damage to human life, crops, and living environments (e.g., cockroaches, termites, aphids, mites, etc.).
■Survey Overview
【Survey Name】 Survey on "Actual State of Detached House Maintenance and Termite Countermeasures"
【Survey Period】 April 7 (Tue) to April 8 (Wed), 2026
【Survey Method】 Internet survey provided by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)
【Number of Respondents】 1,015 people
【Target Respondents】 Men and women who responded that they live in a detached house over 10 years old at the time of the survey.
【Survey Source】 DUSKIN Co., Ltd. (https://www.duskin.jp/terminix/)
【Monitor Provider】 Sacrisa
■Survey Results
"Creaking floors" most common house defect. About 70% recognize the cause as "aging deterioration."
When asked about what applies to their own home or what they are concerned about (defects), the most common answer was "floors creaking or feeling soft/sinking" (22.2%), followed by "difficulty opening and closing doors and windows" (18.7%) and "cracks in the foundation or exterior walls" (16.9%).
The top answers are all physical changes related to the structure and framework of the house. From these results, it is considered that "visual/sensory changes" such as discomfort felt in daily life and cracks are easily recognized as defects in one's home.
When respondents who answered that they had some "applicable or concerning issues (defects)" were asked what they thought caused the defects, the most common answer was "aging deterioration" (74.2%), followed by "damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes" (28.1%) and "damage from pests such as termites" (22.1%). "Aging deterioration" accounted for an overwhelming majority of about 70%, indicating that many people perceive house defects as "natural changes due to the passage of time." On the other hand, a certain number of people suspected specific external factors such as "natural disasters" and "termites and other pests."
About 20% answered that they had experienced termite damage in the past! What was the trigger for noticing the damage?
When asked if they had ever experienced termite damage, about 20% answered "yes" (19.5%).