[Normal]

I wouldn’t purchase it. You know you can buy Termidore SC online and it does the same thing. Most homes are block construction where we live anyway.

[Wondering]

If you have a block and stucco house,i wouldn't renew. If you have a stick /wood framed house you might reconsider.

[BBBnWitty]

Originally Posted by GizmoWhiskers

Agree, moisture (South of 44 has a lot of ponds and literally filled in swamp area). Wooden houses are optimal restaurants for termites. Three months was all it too to devour an exterior grade 2 x 4 frame I had once at at FL residence on the ground in the back yard.

Definitely a good idea to have a plan one way or another to prevent and protect from termites. They can penitrate through cement and can get through cracks of cement as well.

They can not bore through concrete, but can access wood through cracks in concrete.

[ahrens fox]

Ask the type of termites covered. Our neighbor had Massey termite coverage for years only to discover that her type of termite was not covered.

[TomSpasm]

You could also save a lot of money by cancelling your home and auto insurance...but that doesn't make sense either.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Wondering

If you have a block and stucco house,i wouldn't renew. If you have a stick /wood framed house you might reconsider.

Every house in TV has wood trusses. In our build we are also 25% wood studs, along with metal studs

[sallyg]

We never had a termite bond on our new house. The builder got pretty insistent that we get one during our walk thru. We thought it was odd that he was so pushy. Makes one wonder if there might be something in it for him.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by sallyg

We never had a termite bond on our new house. The builder got pretty insistent that we get one during our walk thru. We thought it was odd that he was so pushy. Makes one wonder if there might be something in it for him.

Sounds very strange. As I understand it, all new houses are treated for termites. The initial treatment is required by Florida law. They poison the soil under the house before the foundation is constructed. It is very inexpensive at that time. Most of these treatments are done by Massey or Deans. The new owner automatically gets a 5-year termite contract, starting on the date of closing, but it needs to be renewed and the house inspected every year. After 5 years, the house needs to be retreated if the owner wants to continue the contract.

[metoo21]

There are dry wood termites that swarm and can get into the attic without entering the slap and climbing inside walls. We had Massey treat the attic and our termite coverage includes the attic. So we have dry wood termite and subterranean termite coverage.

Dampwood and Drywood Termites

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by metoo21

There are dry wood termites that swarm and can get into the attic without entering the slap and climbing inside walls. We had Massey treat the attic and our termite coverage includes the attic. So we have dry wood termite and subterranean termite coverage.

Dampwood and Drywood Termites

Note that the standard and mandatory termite treatment for new houses is for subterranean termites only. The dry wood termite treatment is optional. Personally, I would opt out of the dry wood termite treatment because those termites can be detected early enough to avoid significant damage.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by sallyg

We never had a termite bond on our new house. The builder got pretty insistent that we get one during our walk thru. We thought it was odd that he was so pushy. Makes one wonder if there might be something in it for him.

Is it possible that the builder wanted you to buy an optional dry wood termite treatment and contract? This would be in addition to the standard subterrenean termite treatment that is required by Florida law for new houses.

[huntervonmanley]

As a 55 year old Native(yes, we do exist) of Marion County and a 15+ year REALTOR I will share my opinion. If I purchased a home that already had a termite bond on it, I would definitely keep it up if the yearly cost was say $250 or less.
Yes, it is true that the property has to be treated for termites on all new construction. However, there is no definite way of knowing if it was properly treated with enough product. Being in the industry I have heard stories of termite companies that will dilute their product down or just not apply as much product as really needed in order to make more money. It is impossible for a building inspector to be able to determine Exactly how much product was used.

Yes, it also true that you Probably will not have any termite issues in the first 5 years. But do you want to possibly risk an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to save a few hundred? I have personally seen multiple times where subterranean termites enter from underground through a crack in your slab, get into the interior walls and eat up a lot of the interior framing before you ever know they are there. Unless you go digging in the ground looking for them you usually never see subterranean termite until the swarm, which is usually like Feb. to April depending on the temperature.

With all that being said I would also prefer a company that treats the property instead of using a bating system. The baiting system I am familiar with was called Sentricon. I heard many mixed reviews from both homeowner's and termite technicians.

Originally Posted by BBBnWitty

They can not bore through concrete, but can access wood through cracks in concrete.

Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Formoson Termites

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Mostly found in South FL, some reported in Tampa...

They do not "bore" or "digest" but "displace" concrete as if to be eating, using their little itsy bitsy teeny weeny mouths to move tiny bits of concrete. Sorry I forgot to use precise wording when claiming "eat" and words matter in an extreme literal way on totv.

Next question: can or could they they migrate or show up in the T V. ? Who wants to roll a dice to find out? Not me so I choose to treat as if they could. I treat the perimeter of my concrete slab. Just because one has a "block" or concrete slab house one might want to still consider treating the home.

[SusanStCatherine]

Our new construction was treated for termites by Massey. Was it done properly? It's supposed to last for five years. After the first year we were asked by Massey to pay them to do nothing. We declined and paid Dean's to inspect and apply prevention.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by SusanStCatherine

Our new construction was treated for termites by Massey. Was it done properly? It's supposed to last for five years. After the first year we were asked by Massey to pay them to do nothing. We declined and paid Dean's to inspect and apply prevention.

You pay Massey annually to visit your house and inspect it for termites, not to do nothing. After 5 years, they will retreat the entire house by pumping chemicals every 16 inches in the soil under the house. On my case, the cost was about $400, and they entended the termite contract for 10 years.

By contrast, Deans does not retreat the entire house. They will visit every year and only treat a small portion of the house. Also, they will not extend your contract for more than a year at a time. So, they can raise your annual price or cancel your agreement any time they want.

Last year, I discussed these options in detail with both Massey and Deans, and I decided that Massey offered a better deal. When your initial 5 year contract expires, I would suggest that you discuss these two options and decide which company you want to use. For me, Deans' year-to-year approach was not acceptable.