Five Decades of Family Excellence Serving Silicon Valley Since 1973
From the days when Mountain View was still orchards to the tech boom that transformed the valley, J&M Termite Control has been the constant—a family-owned business earning trust one inspection at a time, one home at a time, for over half a century.
How It All Started: The Jim Darling Story
In 1973, Jim Darling saw an opportunity. Silicon Valley was still largely agricultural—apricot orchards stretched across what is now downtown Mountain View. But change was coming. Intel had just opened its headquarters, Atari was getting started, and homes were being built at a rapid pace.
Jim had worked in pest control for years, learning the trade from the ground up. He knew termites. More importantly, he knew people. He understood that homeowners weren’t just buying a service—they were protecting their single biggest investment.
So Jim founded J&M with a simple philosophy: Do the job right, even when no one is watching. Spend the extra hour in the crawl space. Tell people what they need, not what will make the biggest profit.
That philosophy worked. Word spread among homeowners and real estate agents. J&M became the name people requested—not because we were the cheapest, but because when Louis Bimbi (who joined us in the early days) inspected your attic, you knew everything that was up there.
Jim passed the business to his family, who formed the Darling Family Corporation. Today, over 50 years later, we’re still family-owned, still operating from the same principles Jim established in 1973.
The valley has changed. Orchards became tech campuses. $50,000 homes became $2 million properties. But J&M’s commitment hasn’t changed: thorough work, honest assessments, and service that makes clients tell their friends, “You have to use J&M.”
Five Decades of Excellence: A Journey Through Time
The J&M Way: Our Commitment to You
These aren’t corporate values dreamed up by a marketing team. These are the principles Jim Darling established in 1973 that guide every decision we make today.
Thoroughness Over Speed
Our inspections take 2-3 hours, not 45 minutes. Why? Because 80% of termite activity happens in crawl spaces and attics—the areas quick inspectors skip. We enter tight spaces. We photograph everything. We take moisture readings in 20+ locations. We find what others miss. This takes time. It costs us more. But it's the only way to do the job right.
Honesty Over Profit
We'll tell you if you DON'T need fumigation, even though it's more profitable for us. We'll recommend orange oil for a small colony instead of tenting your entire house. We'll explain the difference between urgent Section 1 findings and preventive Section 2 work. Our business model is built on repeat customers and referrals. One upsell isn't worth losing a client's trust.
Expertise Over Marketing
We don't have TV commercials or celebrity spokespeople. Our 'marketing' is Louis Bimbi spending 3 hours in your attic and finding the dry rot that two other inspectors missed. It's Jeannie coordinating your inspection with your title company so escrow closes on time. We invest in expertise, not advertising.
Long-Term Relationships Over Transactions
We've inspected the same homes multiple times over decades—once for the original buyer in 1985, again for the seller in 2010, and now for the new buyer in 2025. We've worked with the same real estate agents for 20+ years. This only works if we consistently deliver quality. Every. Single. Time.
The People Behind J&M
Scott Darling
General Manager / Owner
Need Bio Information
Robert
Structural Repair Specialist
J&M can offer complete solutions. While other pest control companies have to refer you to a separate contractor, Robert handles structural repairs in-house— replacing termite-damaged joists, rebuilding shower pans, fixing dry rot. He matches existing construction so seamlessly you can’t tell where the repair happened.
Jeannie
Office Manager & Client Coordinator
She person who makes everything run smoothly. If you call J&M, you’ll talk to Jeannie. She’s been coordinating inspections, treatments, and repairs for over 15 years. She knows the real estate agents by name. She understands escrow timelines. She can tell you exactly when Louis will arrive and when your report will be ready. Jeannie is why J&M feels personal, not corporate. She remembers clients from previous inspections. She follows up to make sure you’re satisfied.