Termite Protection

[FingerEnglish]

Just moved to the Villages...Montbrook Villas....
Got a renewal request from Massey for termite protection....
Are they legit?

[retiredguy123]

Yes. Massey treats most of the new houses for termites and provides a 5-year renewable contract. You should have received a written contract at closing. To renew the contract, you need to have them inspect the house annually for termites and pay about $100. If you don't, the contract will be terminated. After 5 years, you will need to retreat the house and start a new contract. Some people let the contract be terminated because they think the risk is small.

[JohnN]

Massey's will indeed want to retreat at something approaching a thousand dollars, at least in my case.
We switched to Dean's instead. Dean's treats at every inspection (Massey does not , they just look around) and while they're a couple dollars more annually, nothing like a retreat would cost. Best wishes.

[PugMom]

Yes, very good company that is well known & used by many

[retiredguy123]

Massey's will indeed want to retreat at something approaching a thousand dollars, at least in my case.
We switched to Dean's instead. Dean's treats at every inspection (Massey does not , they just look around) and while they're a couple dollars more annually, nothing like a retreat would cost. Best wishes.
The reason I didn't use Dean's after my 5-year contract expired last year was because Massey offered a 10-year renewable contract and treated the entire house for $400. This involved pumping chemicals under the house every 16 inches around the perimeter. Dean's only offered an annual contract, and they only treat a portion of the house every year. So, with Dean's, they can raise their price or cancel the contract at any time. That was not acceptable to me. I explored both companies in great detail before deciding on Massey.

[FingerEnglish]

Thank you everyone!!!

[retiredguy123]

Note that, on other threads, some people think that a concrete house will protect you from termite damage. That is totally false.

[dewilson58]

Most times you are buying an insurance policy thru the contractor.

[JohnN]

The reason I didn't use Dean's after my 5-year contract expired last year was because Massey offered a 10-year renewable contract and treated the entire house for $400. This involved pumping chemicals under the house every 16 inches around the perimeter. Dean's only offered an annual contract, and they only treat a portion of the house every year. So, with Dean's, they can raise their price or cancel the contract at any time. That was not acceptable to me. I explored both companies in great detail before deciding on Massey.

I understand your logic and that's cool. After some years with Deans, they raise my rate $10 or so a year, no big deal. I doubt either company will cancel an easy money service so that's not a factor to me.

[mtdjed]

Just moved to the Villages...Montbrook Villas....
Got a renewal request from Massey for termite protection....
Are they legit?

I have been in The Villages since 2007 and live in a 2400 square foot designer home and I have been doing my own pest control for about 12 years using a pump sprayer and a product called Suspend SC. The product costs about $50 for 16 ounces. Every 3 to 4 month I put about 2 ounces in my pump sprayer, add about 1 1/2 gallons of water, pump it up and do the walk about. I spray extra around entrances, in the garage and even around external patios under eaves.

Suspend SC can be used in the house without harm to animals (Other than insects). My cost about $25/year, no contract. If you can walk you can do this.

Check the following site.

Suspend SC Insecticide | DIY Pest Control Products - Fast, Free Shipping (https://www.domyown.com/suspend-sc-p-40.html)

[ithos]

Read the fine print!

They specify which type of mosquito infestations are excluded. My contract with Deans only specifies Formosan and Subterranean termites. Drywood and Wood Boring termites are implicitly not covered as they are not checked off.

Can someone check their contract for Masseys and post which are included? My fathers contract only had one checked. But that was years ago.

[retiredguy123]

Read the fine print!

They specify which type of mosquito infestations are excluded. My contract with Deans only specifies Formosan and Subterranean termites. Drywood and Wood Boring termites are implicitly not covered as they are not checked off.

Can someone check their contract for Masseys and post which are included? My fathers contract only had one checked. But that was years ago.
My contract with Massey only includes Formosan and subterranean termites. For an additional charge, Massey will spray the attic and cover other types of termites. But, in my opinion, that additional coverage is not needed, and it is usually not required by mortgage companies.

Also, some posters on this website have claimed that the do their own spraying for termite treatment. Any aboveground chemical treatment will do nothing to kill subterranean termites. These termites live in the soil under your house, and, once they move in, they never leave. They travel up and down inside your house and eat soft wood, drywall, carpet, and other things. You never see them because they cannot be exposed to any light, except in the Springtime, when some of them fly away to find another house. They are killed by injecting a poison chemical in the soil under the house.

[Susan1717]

Is this for termites also? I didn’t see termites listed in their ad link.

[retiredguy123]

Is this for termites also? I didn’t see termites listed in their ad link.
Typically, treating your house for termites requires a separate treatment and a separate termite retreatment and damage contract. Also, the house must be inspected every year to maintain the contract.

[Sandancer]

Typically, treating your house for termites requires a separate treatment and a separate termite retreatment and damage contract. Also, the house must be inspected every year to maintain the contract.
I pay Massey $99 a year for inspection, with a contract...I have 2 other services with them as well.. I've had them for about 5 years & have no issues...If you see something {cinch bugs, or bugs in the house" they will retreat at no extra cost..

[Wondering]

Just moved to the Villages...Montbrook Villas....
Got a renewal request from Massey for termite protection....
Are they legit?
If your house is a block and stucco, you probably don't need the protection. If it is a "Stick" house, you probably should get it.

[ronda]

Note that, on other threads, some people think that a concrete house will protect you from termite damage. That is totally false.

Well, wood components of a concrete house are still (in theory) susceptible to termite damage, but termites don't eat concrete. So your risk exposure in a concrete house is significantly reduced. I live in a concrete house, but do my own termite protection, just in case. For me, I have decided paying a company to do the treatments is overkill (pun intended). I think they take advantage of creating a fear story.

[retiredguy123]

Well, wood components of a concrete house are still (in theory) susceptible to termite damage, but termites don't eat concrete. So your risk exposure in a concrete house is significantly reduced. I live in a concrete house, but do my own termite protection, just in case. For me, I have decided paying a company to do the treatments is overkill (pun intended). I think they take advantage of creating a fear story.
I agree that there doesn't appear to be a significant termite issue in The Villages, like other areas of the country. So, it is a personal decision to have a professional contract or not.

But, I will make two points. First, termites do not typically eat the structural wood in a house. Most of the damage they cause is to the soft wood items, like door frames, window sills, drywall, carpet, etc. There is no difference between having a concrete house and a stick built house as far as potential termite presence and damage. Second, if you are treating for termites by spraying chemicals aboveground, you are doing nothing to affect subterranean termites in your house. Subterranean termite treatment requires that you create a poisoned soil barrier around the perimeter of the house. The poison chemicals are injected under the house, not on the surface. Spraying chemicals aboveground does absolutely nothing to deter subterranean termites from taking residence in the soil under your house.

[nn0wheremann]

Yes. Massey treats most of the new houses for termites and provides a 5-year renewable contract. You should have received a written contract at closing. To renew the contract, you need to have them inspect the house annually for termites and pay about $100. If you don't, the contract will be terminated. After 5 years, you will need to retreat the house and start a new contract. Some people let the contract be terminated because they think the risk is small.
Here one can find a map. Formosan and West Indian varieties have been found in the villages, around RioGrande, and near. Fenny. More near Sumterville. < https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?usp=sharing&mid=1YNo4MTPGEAK7O39K6GFvn6CfQRk>

[McClendons]

I did the street of dreams tour this AM. When we walked into one of the houses, two swarming termites were sitting on the wall near the front door. Yes, there are termites in the area....

[Jima72]

Massey's will indeed want to retreat at something approaching a thousand dollars, at least in my case.
We switched to Dean's instead. Dean's treats at every inspection (Massey does not , they just look around) and while they're a couple dollars more annually, nothing like a retreat would cost. Best wishes.

According to the state of florida termite treatment rules dean can only treat for termites if they see active termites or damage. Doubt they are treating your house every year for this. Maybe spraying a general insect chemical or for ants.

[retiredguy123]

According to the state of florida termite treatment rules dean can only treat for termites if they see active termites or damage. Doubt they are treating your house every year for this. Maybe spraying a general insect chemical or for ants.
I don't know what type of treatment Deans does, but it made no sense to me to only treat part of the house every year. Massey inserted a metal pipe deep underground and pumped a chemical into the soil every 16 inches around the entire perimeter of the house. I watched the guy do it. This creates a poison barrier around the house that prevent termites from moving in. The treatment is guaranteed for 10 years.