Termite protection scam
 

Found out today there are five types of termites. Contract with Massey only covers ground tremites. They now want more money to protect me from flying termites. Anticipate three more attempts to get more money. Check the time print. I wrongly assumed that "Termite Protection' was for all termites. Not happy.

I think it is worth having a termite contract for subterranean termites. However, it is not worth the extra cost to protect against flying or other types of termites. It may not be a scam, but it is definitely a ripoff.

Anybody use Dean's? I understand they are reputable and reliable.

TERMITES and Vill_no help
 

[QUOTE=baustgen;1589388]Found out today there are five types of termites. Contract with Massey only covers ground

Sorry to hear this. Another casse of hey, you are here to rip off and there is so many ways we can screw you and you can get no help from anyone unless you pay for and find an honest lawyer. Now, that is a real challenge.
Wish we could help. Best to move, we think.


bbbbbb :MOJE_whot:

:agree: I don't think it's a scam, but a case of "buyer beware".

:icon_wink: Ya think? :ho:

When we first moved we used Massey, dumped the for Hullett, Hullett sold their business to Orkin, we use Orkin for termite inspection & insurance

Termite Distribution in Florida
 

You may be on to something. Check off all of the boxes in the attached link.

Termite Distribution - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

I see two parts that we pay for.

1 = Treatment around foundation to prevent termites. done three or four times per year.

2 = Termite Bond (insurance) to pay for damage if it does occur. That's where it gets tricky.

Some have said you can't sell a house without a "termite bond", but I think more likely you can't sell a house without a termite "inspection". (if it's mortgaged)

Can anyone honestly state they have factual knowledge of a home in TV having "subterranean" termite damage. I asked our well known inspector that and the answer was not the he knew of and he himself does not pay for the termite bond program. It's so easy just to do it yourself nowadays.

We bought our preowned house that did not have termite protection, and got a mortgage without inspection. Deans had daisy the beagle come after we closed to sniff out termites, she found none. Deans started treatment that day. I know a few who do their own treatments

I think that it is difficult to evaluate the termite damage risk in The Villages because all new homes are treated by the builder with a soil poison that is supposed to protect the home from subterranean termites for about 10 years. And, most homeowners retreat the house and maintain a termite contract on a continual basis indefinitely. So, the real question should not be "have you ever seen any termite damage?" But, "how much damage would you see if no termite treament was used at all"? Unfortunately, this is a question with no real answer.

Being as our homes are built on a slab, I don't see how the subterranean varmints could get to the wood. Anybody?

They live in the soil and enter the house through cracks in the slab, or around the edge of the slab. They feed on mostly soft wood, like window sills, door trim, carpet, drywall, etc. They can do a lot of damage before being detected, but it does take a long time for them to do extensive damage to a house. You don't see them because they cannot be exposed to the light and they build soil tunnels to travel through. I have seen baseboards that look perfectly normal until you tap it with a screwdriver and find that the surface of the wood is paper thin and the baseboard is totally destroyed. But, it is really a personal decision to have a termite protection contract or not.

Through the tiny cracks and crevices. As we age termites become invisible :ohdear: they also swarm ever spring and fly off to greener pastures. You won’t know you have termites till the chewed up the interior wall planks and seek path too moisture or waste dumping.

Now you ask why would block and stucco concrete slab need protected? Termites are so tiny they can still migrate up through cracks and crevices to wood in the frame or attic and the flying swarm can attack through attic venting screens. the changes are lower in concrete or block house there still very small chance they can get to wood. Wooden frame house percentage lot higher due to wood stud frame construction. Ever turn over old piece of wood lying in yard on dirt? Termites most likely have eaten the underside up.

I don’t know how I got double post my heavy uncontrollable fingers must of hit wrong key on iPad:ohdear:

retiredguy123 and topspinno and some others here are 100% correct. I was asked to comment on this thread.

I have no "skin in this game" as I no longer do official termite inspections. You legally have to have a seperate license to do official WDO (wood destroying organisms) and I found it was just not worth the cost and training headache to maintain this additional accreditation when we are so busy doing home inspections. Most home inspectors leave this to the "bug guys". When we do an inspection by law we CANNOT say we are doing a WDO inspection, and we are not. Of course, when we do find damage or other evidence of "possible WDO" we would certainly call it out as an issue that would need to be checked out by someone "legally allowed" to weigh in on it.

By Florida law, all slabs have to be pre-treated before the build. How long that treatment lasts is debatable. a few folks elect to do their own treatments, providing they know what to buy, how to apply, etc.

Most folks hire this out. Treatments vary, the most common is Termidor.

Some folks sign up for a termite "bond". This is basically an insurance policy that will cover any treatment and repair IF an infestation and/or damage is found. If one plans on selling their home it is often reassuring to the buyer that a constant bond has been in place. Since all insurance is simply risk management, it is up to you weather you feel you would like to insure against this risk.

Some mortgages require an official Florida WDO Inspection. Some do not.

There is a difference between the much more common subterranean termite and the less found (around here) drywood termites. These are more prevalent the more south in Florida you go. The treatment for these is typically a one time treatment in the attic.

So...the big question is how big a risk are termites to your home. The risk varies....and the answers are different as to whom you ask. There is no "One size fits all" answer.

hope that helps a bit.....

Frank

I believe Florida has more flying termites than subterranean

Thank you very much for your input. It was very informative.

Thank you, Frank. I didn't expect a reply so soon. As usual, you came through with all the best information. Bob

There are cracks in the slab. Regardless, the interior wood framing (interior load bearing walls) has been treated with a chemical.

shrinkage
 

as concrete cures it shrinks. there will be tiny cracks around your bathtub plumbing that comes up through the slab. It is a good spot to make sure you have the termite guy spray. some homes will have a small inspection panel. They are easy to install.

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your reply!
I have a question, if I may.....how common (in your experience) is an infestation to actually occur?
Especially in a 5-15 year old house, that was pre-treated....that doesn't have a bunch of dilapidated other houses/structures/rotting decks near by/attached....or old fallen/rotting timber in un-kept wild yards?


I'm just really skeptical that this is even a "thing", in a community like TV...
And this QUARTERLY application, I think, is TOTAL overkill.
Charging me $100, (4X a year) to walk around my little 2 bedroom villa with a sprayer....

Asking anyone with an answer....Just Thought Frank would have more first hand knowledge.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

And a case of projecting the blame.

Here is an option, use the same product the pros use around the home four times a year. It is Tarus SC (generic Termidor SC) https://www.amazon.com/Taurus-SC-CSI...ords=taurus+sc for 55.00 you get 25 one gallon applications or six years' worth. Your annual cost is 9.00. This product works exceptionally well to keep the ants out as well. Ant control is one approved use for this product.

Taurus SC active ingredient is 9.1% Fipronil. This is the same product is similar concentrations as used in Frontline topical flea control for dogs and cats. Not saying that this is safer than any other insecticide, but it is interesting how some hire a professional for their house but DIY for their pets.

I just signed with Florida Pest Control (FPC). They are very reasonable and very thorough. No pressure or BS.:bigbow:

If you own a house in the south, you need some sort of termite contract. When I lived in NC, I came home one day and said what is happening to the drywall in the garage ? Well, termites had built their little tunnels and were eating the paper off the drywall. This was on a house that was 7 years old. I had to have the whole house treated including drilling into the garage concrete floor every 6 inches along the perimeter to have chemicals injected. Needless to say, it was a very expensive procedure. Now, we pay Massey about a 100 a year to provide the warranty. They come and inspect/treat once or twice a year. I did the same thing in NC with a different company.

"Now, we pay Massey about a 100 a year to provide the warranty."

I'm 7 years in now with Massey, and now they say they need to retreat above and beyond the $100. Don't know how much that would be, but I'm exploring options.

$100 a year, let's say 60,000 homes in here, $6,000,000 per year divided mostly by Deans and Massey. I wonder how many claims they have ever paid out on termite damage. I wouldn't mind having a piece of that action. They most likely have insurance to cover any claims that might arise but premiums would not be anywhere near that number.

I agree. But, if you do a similar calculation with car insurance, I would rather have a piece of that action. And homeowners insurance on the 60,000 homes is about 10 times what people pay for the termite insurance.

That's true but a lot of us use our homeowners and auto insurance every once in awhile. I still have never heard of a documented case of subterranean termites in TV and I have asked on several forums over the last two years.

Before doing any termite treatment, I suggest going to the Florida Dept. of Agriculture website and search "termite control"

Good advice;

https://www.freshfromflorida.com/con...racts_0910.pdf

I am from North Calif. and anytime a home was sold a termite inspection was required. You could see the termite fumigation tents spring up. I must say I have never seen a tented house here in the 14 years I have been here.

Tenting a house is not a treatment for subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are eliminated by drilling holes around the perimeter of the house and pumping chemicals into the soil. Tenting is a treatment process for an entirely different type of termite or other pests. In the South, subterranean termites are a problem. But, if you want to save money, then it is your decision and right to refuse to pay for the treatment and just take your chances.

Mods should consider making this link a "sticky" for future reference.