[srateach]

Does anyone know if there is a need to upgrade termite protection to include "vulnerable wood in the attic"? According to our contractor the current coverage protects against subterranean termites but not 3 other types. Does anyone have any information/knowledge on this? Thanks in advance for any information.

[tracy1j]

I'd like to know that answer also. We received a letter from Massey today telling us that while our home is protected against subterranean termites, it is not protected from wood destroying insects, such as drywood termites, old house borers and powder post beetles. Have others purchased this protection? It looks like it would cost us about $350. Being from Minnesota, we don't have much background on termite protection! Thanks.

[Bryan]

I know that when I was in Tennessee, my termite protection excluded coverage for a type of flying termite called, I think, Formosan Termites. Some of the others mentioned here I have not heard of. I would be interested in learning how much of a problem these other termites are in Florida. $350/year just sounds a little steep for some "added" protection. I happen to use Massey ourselves and I have not received any notice from them (yet) about upgrading our termite protection. Maybe I ought to reread my current policy so I know exactly what I do have covered!

[billethkid]

"masked" marketing initiative by one of the companies on our island (the major provider). Very similar in approach they advised what was not covered. What they failed to advise all customers was whether those not covered were in fact an issue in our climatic area. After many people spent thousands of $$$$ for the newly offered protection, it was discovered and announced the likelihood of a problem was near nil. Needless to say the major provider soon became the smallest participant in services provided in our area.

I am not saying this is the case here in TV. Just to do your home work. First could be with the developer and financial institutions that have been building and lending on homes that have been adequately protected.

Then do some good old fashioned research on what is being said.

Then ask good questions before committing to "upgrade".

btk

[Army Guy]

We did it with Massey when we bought last June (09). It cost $250 and consists of them going up in your attic and spray all over, inside roof, trusses, etc. They then give a forgot how long warrenty on it.

Army Guy

[allairenjadea]

We also would like some info on this subject. Massey recently sent us a letter about these Formosan termites and for $300 they would treat the attic for us and then add $25 or $50 a year to our plan. Are these termites a real threat in this area ?

[Midge538]

This would seem to be an appropriate issue for our (VHA) Villages Homeowners Assn to explore in detail on behalf of it's members. A few emails or calls should alert them to the widening concern. (Maybe not mention TOTV).

[Grill Meister]

The advice to do your homework is right on the money. I lot of companies make you aware of what is not covered and cause you to believe that your are vulnerable to non-existing perils. They make big profits by protecting you from things that don't exist in your area.

Do you homework.

[golf2140]

We just had a termite inspection prior to closing on our old home. The inspector noticed that I had a sticker from Massey concerning this treatment. He said that we had waisted our money because those termites are not seen in TV. He further stated that by spraying the attic, all the area covered by insulation would not be protected. That made sense to me. Just another lesson learned.

[tracy1j]

Thank you for your thoughts, opinions and knowledge. I appreciate it!

[Army Guy]

Will agree that businesses can be misleading, but after 30 yrs in the Army I have learned it is better to be safe then sorry and always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. To us even if there is a 1% chance of something happening, we would rather be prepared for it. Sort of like when I was in my early 40s we took out Long Term Care Insurance for our later years. Everyone laughed at us, but now they are looking into it and the coverage is less and costs more cause they are now older.
JMHO, but $250 now, doesn't seem that much for something that may happen on a several hundred thousand dollar investment.
Remember, what were the odds it would ever snow at TV? And it did..............

Army Guy