Termite companies are having a hard time, so they EXAGGERATE TO GET BUSINESS.
Business is down. They charge a measly $20 to do an inspection. Probably losing $50 per inspection in hopes of finding stuff... So what do they do? They find stuff. This "stuff" is nothing, yet they can exaggerate enough to get a job out of it, and then they overcharge.
I am now 3 for 3 and it is pissing me off.
1) I was the listing agent. A vague report comes in stating "Termite in stump." Note the technicality. It doesn't state "Termites in Stump" or "Formerly termites in stump" or "Inactive termites." I had my friends over at AffordablePest.com take a look. The termites hadn't been there for years. And the standard practice is that if it isn't within X feet, no harm to the house, no activity, nothing is needed. Yet the $20 inspector "recommended" around the house treatment for $465 and a $95 annual insurance. The result $0 and a PAIN getting the inspector to submit the report (he doesn't have the time to lose $50 and send yuo a report that is "all clear").
ALSO READ YOUR CONTRACT. It doesn't matter what the termite company recommends. Our contract says something like active termites or damage to the home. Neither was the case here. Result $0. Savings $465
2) Again the listing agent. They found carpenter bees. "Treat and fill 2 carpenter bee holes, front of home above bedroom window. Need 40' ladder, 2 men". Cost=$365. I had AffordablePest come out and they did it for $225.
3) Again the listing agent. "Shelter Tubes Staining in Garage" is all it says. Nothing else. Very vague. Affordable Pest said an "indication" of presence of termite tubes might be significant but "staining" is obsure language. Recommendation from the $20 cheapos: Treat the entire house and detached garage for $750.
However since the garage is detached, it is treated like a shed. And HUD does not require inactive pest evidence in a detached garage to be reported. IE , NO TREATMENT IS NEEDED. Savings $750.
So this month Affordable Pest, a Termite exterminator company saved my clients over $1,200. So I thought I'd give them a shout out, and maybe some biz. Ask for Jason, he owns the place and won't screw you.
So don't just trust those reports that come in. Too frequently, they are just crap.
(FYI, his inspections cost $75, but your "$20" loss leader high school kid inspections are causing unnecessary problems, is it worth the savings?)
- Written by Frank Borges LL0SA Broker FranklyRealty.com
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