Massey vs Dean's for termite treatment
 

Would like to have the baits installed in the ground around the house and can see from these posts that Dean's cover three types of termites; Massey two.

Is that a big deal?

Thank you all again.

Waste of money ask Massey what the percentage of houses with termite problems is in the villages, spay your property yourself and take a vacation every year!

I had termites a long time ago in fl but not here, 5 homes , but I would advise getting the termite protection, I call around right now I have superior on new side but I’ve had them all , the bond is Important I’ve never got the part up in ceilings up to you. I would go with best price of a good company . Remember if you sell your home you’ll need a termite bond

We had termites twice over a 20 year period in a home we had in Ft Lauderdale.

Once they came in inside some new furniture...the other time inside the wood of the new cabinets we purchased when we remodeled the kitchen.

In both cases they came from the warehouse....and they usually won't show any signs for about 5 or 6 years of being inside the wood

We had a regular pest service, but didn't have any termite insurance....so we paid out of pocket each time to eliminate the termites

Unlike other parts of the US, termites are very common in FL...but if treated correctly they are not a problem.

We've decided to continue with the termite coverage with the vendor that originally applied the treatment to the house we have in TV....only because it will give piece of mind to any potential buyer when we choose to sell. When the termites we had showed up the second time they were discovered by the 'home inspector' the people that were buying our house had hired....like a week before closing.

It could have been a deal killer. We had it fixed, purchased a year's termite insurance coverage transferable to them, our broker convinced them that termites are a treatable issue and not to worry. It worked out.

Regarding the baits. We had the 'baits' installed in the ground around a home that we had/sold in Massachusetts....never had any termites...however when selling that house the buyer's home inspector saw the bait traps and his report said that there were termites present. Again in the 11th hour we had to have the fellow that owned the pest control service we used write a letter stating that there where never any termites and that the bait traps proved that...

I see it as 'short money' to avoid any 11th hour hassles when it comes time to sell and leave TV

I don't like the bait system for termites because it is more expensive than the poison soil barrier treatment, and it requires regular monitoring to ensure that you don't get termites. It doesn't treat your entire house, but relies on monitoring.

My Massey termite warranty will expire next year, 5 years after buying a new house, and paying about $90 per year for renewals. When the warranty expires, Massey will retreat the house by injecting chemicals in the soil around the house for about $500, and they will then renew the warranty for 10 years for about $100 per annual renewal. If I switch to Dean's, they will transfer the warranty to my house for $165 with no retreatment, and will charge me $165 per year for an indefinite warranty period. Personally, I think Massey has a better deal because I will be getting a complete new treatment and the renewals are less expensive.

When compared to my homeowners and auto insurance, I think the termite warranty is money well spent. However, I would only purchase protection against subterranean termites, not the flying type that some termite companies try to sell you for an additional cost. The reason is that subterranean termites can do substantial damage before you even see them.

Have not used either co. The company I use stopped using bate a few years ago and every 5 years they spray. I do not recall why they stopped but it may have been the cost of the service. They do inspect the property every year. I have the treatment because of the bond. I also spray on my own for inside and outside bugs. The outside spray also covers termites but no bond. Takes less than an hour a month and at very little costs.

We had Massey with the contract as a new house. After some number of years of "inspection only" they wanted to do a complete expensive retreat. Dean's gave me a lot better offer on a new contract and they actually treat with the annual inspection and their price is just slightly higher than the Massey inspection-only price. Dean's even had a "termite" dog go around the property.

Dean's... hands down. Massey's there for the easy money

I use Dean’s. I bought the house without termite bond but with extensive home inspection. Dean’s had a young beagle come to sniff around, the house passed the dog’s inspection, they treated the grounds and now I have a termite bond and insurance.

We use Florida Pest and have in ground and flying termite protection. Both are peace of mind and good for resale of home. We find the cost reasonable. We have the poison ground barrier type...not bait type. Recently a neighbor had their house tented and fumigated for flying termites. Both types are in the area.

When you install the underground stations, you are inviting the termites to come and ingest the poisoned wood in the traps and die. I don't think it's worth the extra money. Also, as long as you pay for a termite bond (insurance) on your home, it doesn't matter if your house ever gets inspected, you are covered for any repair or replacement that needs to be done. At least that's how Terminix does it.

We use Superior Services of Central Florida. We paid $500 the first year with them for termite injections around the entire property. We receive annual inspections. As long as you maintain another one of their services (i.e., lawn pest control or inside/outside pest control) there is no annual fee to keep their termite protection/repair warranty. Every 6 years they reinject Termicide around the foundation at no cost.

Dog's inspection
 

Wouldn't a Lab test have been better? (Sorry...)

Our Massey termite contract just expired. I choose to have baits put in around the house for $699. Life time guarantee. The chemicals in the ground would have cost $500 and something with a guarantee of five years. Then after five years I’d have pay another $500 and something. Probably more with inflation. The annual bait inspection is about $30 more than if I would have gone with the chemical application. In the long run I figured the baits were a better deal. Peace of mind trumps money for me.

Call Superior. They have highest ratings. 352-751-3389

When I recently got a quote from Massey for the $500 chemical treatment, their termite warranty was for 10 years, not 5 years.

I completely agree—on birth points—YES to Dean’s, NO to Massey!

We have had Deans for 15 years and very happy with them

Orkin to the Rescue
 

We discovered that we had siigns of drywood termites and called Massey and Dean. Orkin Pest Control had the best logical explanation, price, and technicians. Others tried to oversell us using scare tactics. It seems that the best termites to invite into your home are these. Usually come in with furniture (in our case --- a Murphy Bed purchased 8 years ago). These critters move very slowly unlike the subterrain ones that can eat you out of your home very quickly. Nevertheless Orkin recommended and treated our problem with a safe foam chemical that was injected around each door and window in the house as well as in potential wet spots (like the drain of a bath tub). They installed an access panel in a closet for the bathtub drain. The above was for the drywood termites.

There were no signs of the deadly subterranean breed. Nevertheless, they treated that as a preventative measure because we do have a large oak tree which can attract these critters. For this, they inserted and injected a chemical every 12" around the perimeter of the foundation. In addition, they installed Sentricon bait traps outside the house every 10 feet around the perimeter and three feet out. they also sprayed exposed wood in the attic.

$1,600 for everything just described . Could not be happier.

Am not connected with Orkin in any way whatsoever; don't want or get any kind of referral fee; simply want to share our good experience with others here in the community.

The Service Supervisor was excellent and patient as he educated us to the options. His contact info follows:

Jeff Lightfoot
352-431-5675 is his cell

Leesburg Office is 352-787-1357

Is this home new, or is it a resale. If resale, I would stick with whoever the contract is with currently; otherwise, new company , if you ever have a problem, can always say that the problem started prior to them taking over the contract, and refuse to make the repairs.

Termites
 

Massy was my first bug guy. He put traps around my house. At renewal he wasq

Spare. Termite treatment
 

I heard that people here were using a DIY approach by using granular termite treatment that they get at Sparr. Can anyone provide more information about this?

Yes, ask Massey. Question: "Massey what percentage of houses in the Villages have had termite problems?" Answer: "The Villages is a wonderful place to live. Lots of golf, pickelball, swimming, restaurants and entertainment. What time should we come over?" Yep, spray yourself.

There are those who contend that termite protection is not needed in The Villages; however, I feel that it is a worthwhile investment since when you go to sell the house, you will be asked if you have had termite protection and a negative response could mean that you might lose the sale. In my opinion, it is relatively cheap insurance. What you are buying is really just an insurance policy that will cover you in the event there is termite damage. That being said, I have felt that the Dean's termite program is better than Massey's termite program and I have found that Dean's was more reasonably priced. In the end, you should compare coverage vs. cost and make your decision. If you look inside your electrical panel with the irrigation system and cables, you will find out who installed the original termite protection. Chances are that that company will be cheaper for continuing service.

I will pass on a tip I received fro a commercial pest control vendor who sells all types of insecticides to termite control companies etc...
He said if you buy some wood 2 x 2 boards, cut them into two foot lengths and make a point at one end. Then soak them in Terminex for 24 hours. Drive them in the ground around the perimeter of your house about 2-3 feet apart (Yes it will be quite a few) that will repel any subterranean termites which is what the bait traps are for. I did that at my other house and it worked for the twenty years I was there. The flying termites are another story and you have to inspect (preferably annually) for those.

No, a CAT scan.
 

No, a CAT scan would be best.

baits are a waste of money IMHO....all that means is that termites are in your immediate area

spend the money and have someone annually treat your home....it's short money
and they are on the hook if you get termites

DIYS and you own everything

we had termites twice in Ft Lauderdale before moving up here....
whether there are 2 or 3 kinds of termites makes little difference in my eyes (but I am not the bug master)

hey...FL has termites...ya just gotta deal with it