BUSINESS
"I don't cut corners," Lowe said. "I use premium products at a fraction of the price of the big guys." Arizona's unavoidable pest One of the biggest misconceptions Lowe encounters is the belief that termites are a rare problem in Arizona. In reality, he tells homeowners that termites are less a matter of "if" and more a matter of "when." "Every house here will eventually get termites," he said. To reduce risk, Lowe advises homeowners to repair leaking irrigation lines and outdoor spigots, keep landscaping from touching exterior walls and inspect foundations after major rainstorms for mud tubes or signs of termite activity. Fortunately, termite infestations usually develop slowly. "People think their house is falling down as soon as they get termites," Lowe said. "The truth is they're very slow eaters." Family first The biggest reward of owning his own business isn't financial. It's time.
Lowe and his wife are raising three sons, including two boys they adopted from the Marshall Islands at birth. The children play soccer throughout Buckeye and the West Valley, and Lowe now has the flexibility to attend games and spend more time with his family. He believes that family-oriented atmosphere is one of Buckeye's greatest strengths. "The family values seem to be stronger out here," Lowe said. "It makes me happy that there are still places to raise kids that feel safe and let them have a normal childhood." As temperatures climb toward triple digits this summer, Lowe will continue spending his days crawling through attics, inspecting foundations and battling Arizona's relentless heat. Armed with sunscreen, sweat rags and a gallon of ice water, he'll be doing what he enjoys most: helping Buckeye homeowners protect their biggest investment. And if a customer offers him a chance to cool off afterward? "One client let me jump in their pool after a job," Lowe said with a laugh. "I took them up on it."
Like many Arizona residents, Lowe said he didn't fully understand termites growing up. Once he became the sole termite technician for a major company, however, he developed a passion for solving the unique challenges they present. "I found that I loved the challenge of termite control," he said. "It's nice to solve problems and protect people's homes." When he launched his own company, choosing Buckeye as home base was an easy decision. Lowe and his wife of 16 years had long dreamed of living in Verrado. About a year ago, they made that dream a reality and moved their family to the community. "I like how down-to-earth my Buckeye neighbors are," he said. "I'm an honest, straightforward guy, and the people here seem to appreciate that." Battling demons Ridding Buckeye homes of termites and other critters is therapy of sorts, Lowe says. As a recovering addict, he says hard work in the Arizona sun is what’s kept him clean for nearly two decades now. “The best thing for me is to keep busy,” Lowe said. Because of that, he doesn’t take vacations. “It’s not good for my sobriety,” he said. Lowe said when he’s not working hard, either at work or at the gym, it’s easy to begin feeling down. “I’m just one bad decision from losing it all,” he said. His advice? “Stop worrying about myself and focus on serving others.” A different approach In an industry often associated with aggressive sales tactics, Lowe believes education and transparency are his competitive advantages. Rather than pressuring homeowners to sign contracts immediately, he focuses on helping customers understand their options. "I try to educate them as much as I can and then give them the decision," Lowe said. "I'm not a salesman. I'm a worker." That philosophy has helped generate repeat business and referrals throughout the West Valley. As an owner-operator, Lowe handles every aspect of the company himself, from inspections and treatments to scheduling and customer service. "Wearing all the hats" is his favorite part of entrepreneurship, he said. He also believes his business model allows him to offer premium termite treatments at prices significantly below many larger competitors.
B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T
Meet the Lowes: Landon, Kash, Chase, Kemp and Faith.
HEAT EXHAUSTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP Buckeye's 'Termite Guy' builds business on trust, transparency BY DAVID KENNARD A BOUT THREE YEARS AGO, LANDON LOWE LANDED IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE HEAT EXHAUSTION after pushing himself too hard working in the Valley's brutal summer temperatures. The experience would ultimately change the course of his life. "As I was laying there, I was thinking, 'Am I going to die?'" Lowe recalled. For nearly a week, he struggled to keep food and water down. As he reflected on his career, Lowe said something became painfully clear: After a decade of six- day workweeks, industry awards and recognition, he felt expendable. "There were no check-ins, no 'How are you doing?'" he said. "I almost died out here." That realization became the catalyst for a major career move. After more than 10 years as a termite specialist for one of Arizona's largest pest-control companies, Lowe decided to strike out on his own and build a business centered on customer relationships rather than sales quotas.
"If I'm going to die, I'm going to die out there for myself," he said. Today, Lowe is known throughout Buckeye and the West Valley simply as "The Termite Guy." Despite his visit to the hospital, Arizona's summer heat is where he thrives. His daily routine begins with a Diet Coke from QuikTrip and a one-gallon Stanley thermos packed with ice water. He drinks roughly a half gallon of water a day, supplements with salt or Liquid IV, and keeps an arsenal of sweat rags nearby as he crawls around homes searching for one of Arizona's most persistent pests. "It's me versus the sun," Lowe said. "I treat it like a sport." “Landon is the best for termites, rodents and all other critters,” said customer Mike Gabel. "He got rid of our ant issue within hours.” Building a business in Buckeye Lowe's journey into pest control began when he was looking for a way out of the construction industry in his mid-20s. He assumed his problem-solving and customer-service skills made him a good candidate for pest control.
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InBuckeye.com | July/August 2026
July/August 2026 | InBuckeye.com
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