Wood - Destroying Pest Control

[msu69er]

We are relatively new to TV and living in Florida. We own a sided house. We currently use Massey Services for lawn care, fertilizing, and insect control. They have recommended a 5-year subterranean termite control program since the house is 7 years old. Two options are available: Option one for $637 for the initial treatment and $137 per year for the remaining 4 years, and Option two for $737 for initial year and $137 per year for the next 4 years. Option Two involves baiting for termites and pests while option One is just treating yearly for prevention. My questions are: (1) Do I need this service, and (2) is this a reasonable price? Thanks for any comments and advice.

[bob47]

It has been our experience that Massey provides insurance coverage for 10 years after the initial treatment, with an annual inspection costing about $130 to keep it in force. When our home was 10 years old, they required re-treatment to keep the insurance in force. We had another in-the-ground preventive treatment and 10 more years of annual inspections.

When our home reached 20 years old, once again Massey required re-treatment and this time we chose the Sentricon baiting system, which Massey seems to now believe is superior. This also requires an annual inspection of the traps and of the home, which is a little more costly, about $150. I'm surprised you need re-treatment after 7 years.

[graciegirl]

It has been our experience that Massey provides insurance coverage for 10 years after the initial treatment, with an annual inspection costing about $130 to keep it in force. When our home was 10 years old, they required re-treatment to keep the insurance in force. We had another in-the-ground preventive treatment and 10 more years of annual inspections.

When our home reached 20 years old, once again Massey required re-treatment and this time we chose the Sentricon baiting system, which Massey seems to now believe is superior. This also requires an annual inspection of the traps and of the home, which is a little more costly, about $150. I'm surprised you need re-treatment after 7 years.

I agree. New homes protected for ten years.

[vintageogauge]

How do they treat interior wood studs using option one??? They are treated when the home is being built but if it only lasts 10 years how do they get back in there to treat them again???

[retiredguy123]

Treating for subterranean termites only treats the soil around the house. I would go with option 1 because it poisons the soil completely around the house and should last about 5-10 years, even if you do nothing else. It is very similar to the treatment the builder does. Option 2 is a baiting system which requires periodic monitoring to check the bait traps and retreat if needed.

I'm surprised that Massey didn't also try to sell you an attic treatment for other types of termites. If they do, I would reject the extra treatment. You really only need the subterranean termite treatment, because they can do a lot of damage to your house before you even know that they are there.

[Kilmacowen]

I use Deans for fert , weed and insect. My 10 years is up and they are going to do subterranean treatment. Their price was way less than your quote. Of course, it depends on the property. If I were you, I would get other prices.

[sdeikenberry]

Massey is only one company that provides termite services. I've heard good and bad about them. It would be wise to get other quotes/opinions. You should also consider flying termite protection. The ground policy does not cover flying termites. A neighbor the next street over had to have her house tented and fumigated for flying termites. They are in the area, so don't think they are not. Personally, we have both types of coverage.

[thevillagernie]

sold after living there 12 years lived in Duvall ,used Deans,once a year...thats all...no problems

[Mparker1966]

As far as I am concerned Massey is the most dishonorable and disreputable company I have dealt with. We had them for lawn, irrigation, pest and termite at our prior home here. We fired them over a two year period for lawn, irrigation, and pest in that order, only keeping the “transferable” termite warranty. What a joke, the “transferable” 5 year warranty, which only had 6 months left and which required the new homeowner to contact them with 3 days of sale and pay a $90 fee. When the new owner called to do that, he was told the warranty couldn’t be transferred because Massey had changed their method of treatment. The warranty only had half a year left on it, and we had paid and had done all the annual inspections, but they still refused to transfer it

Like I said, they are a dishonorable and disreputable business.

[coconutmama]

As far as I am concerned Massey is the most dishonorable and disreputable company I have dealt with. We had them for lawn, irrigation, pest and termite at our prior home here. We fired them over a two year period for lawn, irrigation, and pest in that order, only keeping the “transferable” termite warranty. What a joke, the “transferable” 5 year warranty, which only had 6 months left and which required the new homeowner to contact them with 3 days of sale and pay a $90 fee. When the new owner called to do that, he was told the warranty couldn’t be transferred because Massey had changed their method of treatment. The warranty only had half a year left on it, and we had paid and had done all the annual inspections, but they still refused to transfer it

Like I said, they are a dishonorable and disreputable business.

Sorry you had a bad experience. We had Deans at our 1st home but changed to Massey with the 2nd home. Like Massey better

[Chloe Girl]

I think it's a little silly to bait traps just to invite termites to feed upon the bait. I know that the logic is that the termites feed on the bait and then take it back to the nest for other termites to enjoy and then die. Terminix used to bait and check traps every couple of months and now they say the bait is so effective that they only need to inspect a couple of times a year. Folks would become upset because the inspections decreased but the cost didn't. They were told that they were paying for the protection and not the inspections. I personally would just go with the liquid treatment and save some money.

[chrissy2231]

Use Superior 352-751-3389. Termite contract can be transferred. I pay $595 for termite, lawn chemicals, insect control & sprinkler system.

[msu69er]

OK. It looks like the general consensus is to go with Option #1 but to get other quotes before putting down any money. I thank you all for your posts and suggestions. This Talk of the Villages Is a pretty neat site!

[Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com]

Massey is only one company that provides termite services. I've heard good and bad about them. It would be wise to get other quotes/opinions. You should also consider flying termite protection. The ground policy does not cover flying termites. A neighbor the next street over had to have her house tented and fumigated for flying termites. They are in the area, so don't think they are not. Personally, we have both types of coverage.

The termite treatment that Advantage Green uses is for all types of Termites including flying ones, when we purchased our home it had a Termite Bond that the previous owner provided, I pay $125 per year bond renewal, the Advantage Green techs are cordial and they are certified by the State. In Florida Pest control of any kind is weird since we don’t really know if what we are doing is right or not, they guarantee their work via a Bond on your home in case that termites are found they will fix it at NO COST TO YOU. I am on the second year so I am not worrying about it for a while.
Check prices for the same services and a Written Guarantee.

[oxfordreb52@gmail.com]

Use Superior 352-751-3389. Termite contract can be transferred. I pay $595 for termite, lawn chemicals, insect control & sprinkler system.

Is that per year? If not what is the annual cost?

[Dlbonivich]

The chemicals for initial treatment have changed for environmental reasons so the companies only insure for the first 5 years. Then it must be retreated to maintain the bond.

[MaggieBHLN]

I kept stalling and negotiated with them and paid only $350. I decided to have it done for peace of mind.

[EviesGP]

Upon purchasing(2011 resale) almost 2yrs ago, I too, was approached by Massey, asking me to extend the original owner's plan($140?). They also wanted me to pay over $400 to do the perimeter treatment. I'm still young and healthy enough, so I'm going to try to do my own treatment. Based upon some research, and recommendations here, I purchased Taurus SC from Amazon, and plan to trench around the house this year. After that, I may try to do some baiting. Good luck.

[Bob45]

I kept stalling and negotiated with them and paid only $350. I decided to have it done for peace of mind.

Same here. I hesitated and questioned the price and it was lowered on the spot. It shocked me how quick the salesman offered to lower it. If I remember it right it was lowered $150 from the starting price.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

All the major companies at least for termites are the same , the important isn’t so much what they put down , the most important part is the bond which fixes the damage

[KRM0614]

There have been so many horror stories of services from them and others please take the time to contact providers OUTSIDE the villages, these businesses love to take advantage of naive people

[triciakaz]

We are relatively new to TV and living in Florida. We own a sided house. We currently use Massey Services for lawn care, fertilizing, and insect control. They have recommended a 5-year subterranean termite control program since the house is 7 years old. Two options are available: Option one for $637 for the initial treatment and $137 per year for the remaining 4 years, and Option two for $737 for initial year and $137 per year for the next 4 years. Option Two involves baiting for termites and pests while option One is just treating yearly for prevention. My questions are: (1) Do I need this service, and (2) is this a reasonable price? Thanks for any comments and advice.
We were going to use Massey and then Discovered they only guarantee subterranean termites so we went with Terminex who also covers flying termites.

[sbussey350]

Make sure you understand what you are buying. Are they going to pay to repair the damage? I ask because normally the just spot treat the area (low cost).

The real money is repairing the damage inside your walls and attic.

[Barborv]

MSU69er, I have had the sentricon bait system for many years in NY. I don't like to use pesticides. We recently bought a house in TV and had Massey also do the termite bait system. It cost me $599.00 in March of this year for the initial bait placements. Then starting next year I will be paying $145.00 a year
for the "insurance policy" which protects me if any damage is done by termites.

This is just for termites, not bugs in the house. For that I use those cardboard bait things. Not used to florida bugs so might have to spray for bugs around house if I start to see a lot of bugs.