Termite Contract
 

Being told that after 10-11 years of paying $85 a year for Massey Termite Insurance that it is expiring and I have to get resprayed at a cost of $330 to get insurance. Other option is to pay $85 with no damage protecion only Spray Termites after they appear. Anyone know more about this ? Did a TOTV search and it is all very confusing.

Just to clarify, you don't just "spray" for subterranean termites. They live underground in the soil and move up and down into your house slowly eating the wood and drywall materials. If you have these critters, they will never leave until you poison the soil under your house. The treatment process is expensive because you need to inject a poison chemical into the ground every 16 inches around your house, and in some locations, you may need to drill holes through the concrete sidewalk or garage floor because you need to create a continuous poisoned soil barrier around the house. Yes, you can inspect every year and wait until termites appear before treating the house. But, getting proper preventive treatment that is warranted for 8-10 years may give you peace of mind, especially when you want to sell your house. Termites can cause extensive damage to a house if they are not discovered early, and they are very good at hiding themselves from inexperienced people.

I have a Block and Stucco Courtyard Villa and with very few places where the soil interacts with the foundation. As far as I know the treatment proposed does not involve drilling holes around my home and if it did I would certainly reject it since there has been zero evidence of any termite activity in all of my Villa Community. I also had all concrete areas painted and sealed every two years and it would destroy the look by having holes all around my home. Home was treated (Spray was incorrect term); when constructed 11 years ago. Subterranean Termites usually leave mud tunnels and there are none inside or outside. I have homes in NY and SC where I get the annual policy with an inspection not treatment. In NY I actually had a termite problem repaired by Terminex 12 years ago and they have not returned.

The fact that I am unable to get anyone to give me any credible information on this subject makes me feel very uneasy about relying just on the information from a Pest Control Compny. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it feels like a scam, especially for block and stucco construction. I have paid the $85 for 10 years and would continue paying it for the Insurance but without more credible information, which is the reason I posted on TOTV I will reject any other offer from Massey.

I would appreciate receiving any information from anyone who knows more about this than I do.

Thanks
Jack

I don't know anymore than you do except you can mail order Termidor and apply it around your foundation periodically. This is apparently the "good stuff".

Does anyone know of an actual case of subterranian termite damage to a block & stucco home in TV? $85/125 per year renewals ads up to a lot of money in someones pocket.

SELECTING A TERMITE PROTECTION PLAN - UF/IFAS

Above is a link to University of Florida Entomology Department article about Florida termites. Its good information from a third party who is not selling anything. We chose to proactively protect our home with a contract (not Massey, but same thing and similar cost), but I can see how others might be willing to take the risk and save money upfront.

Never heard of any. You would think that companies like Massey would be satisfied with the annual insurance fee of $85 but they are not. I feel that they play on fear and sell something to Villagers that is not needed. I cannot find one person in The Villages who can tell me why I should pay anything to a Pest Control company for termites or other pests for that matter on a Block and Stucco home yet I bet thousands of people pay it to Massey and others.

we pay an annual insurance fee/ with a free inspection--dumped Massey after the first year in TV

When I bought my home it did not have a termite bond and protection plan in place. Inspector found no evidence of termites. I then had a termite protection company do the major injection around perimeter of home which cost a few hundred and includes a termite damage insurance bond. Then every year I pay about $100 for a perimeter spraying to keep the insurance bond in place. The main reason I do this is in case I want to sell the home I can show buyer that a termite bond is in place. Massey is not scamming you, it is normal that every 8-10 years the major perimeter injection must be done if you want to maintain the insurance bond. You don't have to do it, but its good to have it if you decide to sell.

Termidor is the brand name. Most pros use the generic, Taurus SC. Amazon has it

When we sold our first house here, we had to supply proof of termite protection in the form of the most recently paid termite inspection invoice. We did and sold the house. My guess is we would have lost the sale otherwise as the buyer would assume they would have to spend big $$ to get protection.
You should also be aware that most protection plans in TV are for "subterranean" termites only. If you have some that fly into your attic and start there, you are not covered. Massey offered an additional treatment last year for $300 (Designer price), so I am now protected against all wood destroying insects.

I have the same plan which I bought when I bought my home however the building site was treated before home was built. Now my CYV has concrete around 95% or more of the perimeter so where would they inject anything? It is a myth, likely pushed by the pest control companies, that in order to sell your home a termite bond is required.i have never head of this anywhere I lived except for The Villages. Thanks for your reply but I am still unconvinced.

I think that is smart. Which company do you use and will you have to retreat for termites in 8-10 years ?

It is a Village Myth pushed by the Pest Control companies that a Termite Bond is needed to sell a home. Did you ever see a real estate ad saying “ Termite Bond in Place “? Every home sold, Bond in Place or not, gets a termite inspection paid for by the buyer, , required by banks for a mortgage, and if the buyer wants to purchase a bond at that time it is his option. I have not heard of a single case of a home infected by “ Flying Termites” This is used in a sales pitch for people who have Block and Stucco homes. In fact, if you Google “flying Termites” you will not get any information.

Do you know anything about FLYING TERMITES that you can share?

If you sell your home to a cash buyer, you may not need a termite letter, but if the buyer gets a mortgage, the lender will almost surely require a termite letter. This has been the case everywhere I have lived. It appears that the $300 treatment that Massey is selling may not be for subterranean termites, but for other types of termites. The proper treatment for subterranean termites is to pump chemicals underground completely around the house. Having a concrete block house or concrete sidewalks does not make it immune from termites. Termites live in the soil under a house, and they can easily find a path up into the house to eat wood and drywall. They especially like to feed on drywall paper and wood trim, such as baseboards and window casings. I don't know how prevalent termites are in Florida, but they are a serious problem in Georgia and Virginia.

The $300 treatment was for other types of wood destroying insects including termites that fly into your attic through the vents. When Massey came, they treated the attic area of the house only, but my house is now protected no matter what bug tries to eat it.

Where did you get your information about termites living underneath the house with nothing to feed on but dirt? Can you share it with us? If there is no evidence of termites would you drill into your living room floor to treat it ? Mud tunnels are made by subterranean termites and can easily be spotted by even an untrained eye. Point is I still have no reason at all to believe the Pest Control Salesman that my CBS home needs to be treated for termites. I cannot find any information at all on FKYING TERMITES. If they do exist, I would like to know how prevalent they are in The Villages and how many homes had damage from these flying termites.

Please tell me more about these FLYING TERMITES I cannot find any info at all. I have never heard of ‘ “other” bugs that ate homes in The Villages. Do you know of any you can share with us?

ENY-211/IG098: Drywood and Dampwood Termites

All three types of termites exist in Florida, drywood (flying) dampwood, and subterranean. Is the risk large or small here in TV? That's your call. Have there been infestations here? Don't know but I have seen some tented homes that were being treated for something. Do some buyers want a termite bond in place before buying? I am sure some do. Anyway we are wasting our breath here as it seems you have made up your mind that it is all a scam.

Termite inspectuion IS NOT required for mortgage
 

Incorrect. Take it from the source HUD which underwrites FHA loans HUD Archives: HOC Reference Guide -- Pest Control (Page 1-23)

Termite treatment IS required for NEW construction https://hudgov.prod.parature.com/lin...ion-properties

Termite Swarm - YouTube

I was trying to avoid that type of comment. I an honestly trying to find out any information I can about the risk of termites in my CBS home. I do not want to buy something just because everyone else does. I still cannot find out what a FLYING TERMITE is ? I am also very curious about what type of bug spray in the attic will last for 10 years and if it that powerful do I want it sprayed in my home and breathing it in especially when there is no evidence of any bugs at all. It does seem to me that some people are not very knowledgeable or just don’t care about what their Termite Treatment involves. I am not being critical but some may be embarrassed to know that they might have purchased something relying only on the information from the salesman and because everyone else has it.

BTW when I bought here 11 years ago O bought the entire Massey package and it was not cheap. Including GREEN UP. And the only thing GREEN That came up came out of my wallet into Massey’s pocket. Do I think there is a SCAM? I don’t know but I am very skeptical.

I hoped to get more information from some of the very smart people on TOTV bu so far .....nothing.

Just my 2 cents
I strongly believe that we are taken advantage off by many of the local "service" related people just because the smell of money They know that most people come from other parts of the country and even from outside the country they put the fear in all of us because they can . How many of the houses outside the Villages or similar communities do you think have a TERMITE BOND homes with low income people that make decisions on a weekly bases between food and bills And if you wonder I do not have a termite bond
because my block and stucco home is not a yummy termite meal

I posted an informative article by University of Florida which clearly explains what type of termites fly....drywood termites. Enjoy your rant, done trying to help you.

I wasn't talking about "new" construction. I was just saying that, if you sell your house to a "cash" buyer, the buyer may not require you to provide a termite letter. But, lenders almost always require a termite letter because they don't know if the house has termite damage present.

Termites don't eat the dirt. They live in the dirt and use it for moisture. They travel or tunnel up into your house and eat the wood and cardboard in your house. These tunnels are not always easy to find. They only use dirt tunnels when they need to protect themselves from the light of day because termites cannot be exposed to the light. Sometimes, an entire section of a baseboard or window sill can be destroyed by termites, and you would never see it because they eat it from the inside and stop eating when they get very close to the surface. Termite inspectors will use a screwdriver to tap wood surfaces in the house to detect damage. The termites swarm and fly away once a year in the spring, so that their offspring can relocate to other areas. You don't drill into your living room floor to treat for termites. The drilling only occurs outside around the perimeter of your house, and sometimes in the garage. I am not trying to convince anyone to treat their house for termites. Just trying to explain how subterranean termites operate to cause damage to a house. Treating your house for subterranean termites by drilling is not a scam, but spraying your attic or other parts of your house for other types of termites may be a scam, and I would not do that.

The first link is for existing homes. Termite coverage IS NOT required. Click on the link to see for yourself.

The SECOND link is for NEW construction, then it IS required.

Because loans are almost always resold lenders meet the HUD and Fannie Mae requirements, it is the industry standard.

I'm not sure we disagree. But, my experience is that it was customary and almost always required by the lender that a termite clearance letter be provided by the seller. And, I believe it was mandatory for all sales in Virginia, even for cash sales.

Thanks. I agree but Massey does not drill holes and treat to extend your contract. The $300 they want includes treating your attic which seems strange since the original contract was based on the treatment for subterranean termites. I prefer not to breathe in strong chemicals from my attic when there is no evidence of any termites or other bugs. Yet that is what they are selling if you want their insurance extended.

Thanks for that however that is a swarm of subterranean termites not the type the Pest Control companies want to spray for in your attic to renew the Termite Insurane Contract. Confusing I know. I am still confused.

I agree. It appears that Massey is trying to sell you an additional treatment for termites that are not the subterranean type. I would not pay to have my attic sprayed because I don't think it is necessary. If Massey will not extend your subterranean termite contract, I would check with Deans or another company who will provide a subterranean termite warranty contract.

Thanks

All good points.

This may help, the active ingredient in Taurus SC, the stuff they use is the same as the Frontline, you know what you put on your dog, the one you pet. Oh before someone comments on concentrate, Frontline is applied at nearly the same strength as the undiluted Taurus sc that is applied at .8 ounces per gallon. Now is it safe? Well the EPA says it is. But it is not going in my attic.

Doesn’t sound like it would last ten years either.nor worth $300. And if these termites can find their way into the home, so can any chemical and I am not ingesting it at my age.

Actually it has been tested for 15 years, see the FAQs here: Termidor for Termites Frequently Asked Questions

Yes I saw that after I posted. Also noticed it is not for sale in States like NY or SC for some reason. Here is one description.

“Taurus SC Termiticide contains the same active ingredient as the popular Termidor SC, the non-repellent Fipronil. Fipronil belongs to the phenylpyrazole family of insecticides, acting primarily as a GABA inhibitor, attacking the central nervous system of target pests. Fipronil is extremely effective, yet it works slowly enough on target insect pests to take advantage of the natural food-sharing habits of social insects, particularly termites and ants. This means that the fipronil in Taurus SC spreads throughout the entire colony, killing not just those insects that come in contact with the direct spray or residual, but all the others they contact, resulting in colony elimination.”

Also this

Indoors

Taurus SC is not for Indoor use. The only permitted use indoors is for active ant or termite infestations in wall voids only.

I would not like to breathe this in.

Chlordane around the perimeter.

Thanks, I always was curious why it works so well keeping ants out when spayed on the exterior. Works for months, too

Only it was banned 30 years ago(in 1988) for termites. It was banned from food products and lawns 40 years ago (1978). It was linked to cancer in humans.