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Pest Control & Termite Protection - recommendation & approx cost

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by XYZ, May 29, 2007.

  1. XYZ

    XYZ New Member

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    Looking for a recommendation of both pest control and termite protection, and the approx cost for a 3400 sq ft house (including basement)

    Thank you
     
  2. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    We use terminex for pest control. (Used to be Safe Guard which was recently purchased by terminix.) They don't come inside on a regular basis. If we had a problem, they would, but their typical M.O. is to spray the outside, so I don't suspect your square footage will affect pricing. (Although my house is a similar size to yours within a few feet.) I think we pay about $70 an application. They come out, I think, every other month or so. If we need them more to come out because we have an infestation break out or something, they'll come right out. But we've never had to use that service. Their normal servicing has done just fine by us. They even took care of a bee hive we spotted last year - no extra charge.
     
  3. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    I have been less than thrilled at the switch-over from Safe Guard to Terminix... and will be cancelling soon. The difference in service is amazing and I guess because I was used to it when it was GOOD, it is hard to swallow now and the half-baked job that they do now and charge $90 for...
     
  4. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    Interesting to hear, Dave. We had someone from a competitor (can't recall which) knock on the door and tell us many of our neighbors were unhappy with the service and price increase since the change. We haven't been notified that our prices are increasing and I haven't noticed a deterioration in service.

    Would you mind sharing what is different that makes you dissatisfied? Maybe I'm missing something. My bottom line is that I still don't have any bugs in my house. Maybe I should set the bar a little higher?
     
  5. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Quick points - Safe Guard was always very customer service oriented and went out of their way (each driver) to let you know they were there, and they had a very positive attitude toward questions and requests - like can you spray here? Or can you do the garage? And the actual application and products used seemed more extensive, and varied and were well applied in terms or quantity and method.

    Terminix (so far) takes a very minimal approach. Basically do the minimal and leave. I saw the guy there last time for 3 minutes, tops and yet I get charged $90 as usual. Not reactive to questions or requests and from what I have seen so far, they do not do as much in the way of product or application.
     
  6. Donna F

    Donna F New Member

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    We use Superior Pest Control and so far they have been great. We used Safe Guard and weren't thrilled with them. Superior is about $125 for the first spraying and they will come out after that to get rid of the problem free of charge. Then they come back out every 6 months for about $75. They were able to come out on the same day we called when we were having an ant problem. NO more ants... :)
     
  7. cjfj

    cjfj Member

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    We use Superior also, and have been pleased with them. They usually send a notice to me about 3 weeks before they're scheduled to come spray outside, which says to call them if the date noted is not convenient for me. Then the day they're here, they leave a notice on the door reminding me that they were here, and letting me know what they found and treated. I've called them 1 time in over 2 years for an ant problem and they were at our house within the next day or 2.
     
  8. Wahoowa

    Wahoowa New Member

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    We also use Terminex (previously Safeguard) and I was happy with Safeguard but am very unhappy with Terminex.

    I tried for months to change my service from bi-monthly to quarterly with no success. I called the local 703 number and continually got someone who couldn't help me. (Most of the time I got re-routed to the National Call Center in Tennessee without knowing it.) They promised to leave a message for someone else to call me back, which never happened. So this month, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I called on May 8th and cancelled my bi-monthly service that was scheduled for May 23rd. Then on May 22nd, I got an automated voicemail message that my service was scheduled for the next day. I called again - very irate - and cancelled it for the second time. They came on the 23rd anyway and since I wasn't home, they treated the exterior of my house. Now even more irate, I finally got the manager of the Sterling office and he waived my fee for the treatment and switched me to quarterly. Yesterday, May 29th, 6 days after the treatment which I unsuccessfully tried to cancel twice, I arrived home right as Terminex got to my house for my bi-monthly treatment! Talk about inept!

    Now I intend to write a letter to the president of Terminex and call Superior Pest Control.
     
  9. We Love Disney

    We Love Disney New Member

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    We use Orkin and are pleased.
     
  10. The Sparrow

    The Sparrow New Member

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    Am i the only one who thinks this type of service for just general prevention is a big boondoggle for terminix? I could see using their services if you have a pest problem but not sure how necessary the prevention is.
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Besides termites what other pests is everyone treating, especially inside the house?
     
  12. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    KTdid and others--

    Why not DIY (Do-It-Yourself)? You can buy pest control products at the "big box" stores for insect and pest control. We DIY for ants, etc. Great results. Usually, unless it a bad problem and you need a bond for new construction, DIY works well.

    If you wish ORGANIC pest control methods and want info--ask me. I will post if interested.

    Foodie
     
  13. kris

    kris New Member

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    Foodie..can you post the organic pest control methods...

    As always thanks for sharing the info...
     
  14. kris

    kris New Member

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    I see you already posted the organic ways of pest control on another post..
     
  15. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    kris and others--

    Glad to have helped you out. Also, if you have SPECIFIC queries on organic pest control, etc.--ask and I will post under NATURAL PEST CONTROL thread on the Nature Forum.

    Foodie
     
  16. Pa2Va

    Pa2Va New Member

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    We use Country Termite... use to use Terminex, not very happy with them. We spray for spiders about every 3-4 months and it really works! Nothing is worse than going in the basement to watch a movie and have a big ugly wolf spider walking across the floor. EEK!
     
  17. neilz

    neilz New Member

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    FWIW ... doing it yourself for about $12 to 15 for about 4 or 5 minutes work is alot cheaper than having a 'service' come out. Especially if all you have are ants to worry about.

    Head to Home Depot or Lowes and you can find the ready mixed 'home pest control' in gallon jugs, or you can buy the concentrate to mix your own. I'd also get a good gallon pump-type sprayer too while you're there.

    Just walk around the outside of your house and spray the perimeter of the house making sure you do about a foot wide band around the house. Pay special attention to any areas that are near the doors, and foundations near where the siding stops.

    If you have mulch that covers up the siding/foundation juncture, I'd clear that away so you can see the juncture without having to dig it out. That type of covering allows insects to enter your without a visible trail of ants or termite tubes.
     
  18. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Pest Control & Termite Protection Recommendation & Approx. Costs

    neilz and others--

    Neilz, you are correct. Thanks for reminding people of putting mulch close to homes. If you do mulch heavily and place mulch beds close to the foundation/siding of your home, you can cause "unwanted critters" to appear.

    When you mulch, your mulch beds should be about 1"-2" thick or less. Sometimes gardeners will (unknowingly) mulch too much without spreading old mulch around; and the mulch beds will be too "thick". Plants need "breathing space" to properly grow and mature throughout their growing season(s).

    DIY pest control is good; and we have done the same method that Neilz mentioned in the past at our homes. Currently, (especially since having kids), we most often will use Natural Pest Control methods and "old timey remedies" for our vegetable and flower gardens. Also, mulch beds around trees and shrubs should not be "overdone". Spread the old mulch around and layer lightly new mulch.

    Foodie
     
  19. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Pest Control & Termite Protection Recommendations & Approx. Costs

    neilz and others--

    Neilz, you are correct. Thanks for reminding people of putting mulch close to homes. If you do mulch heavily and place mulch beds close to the foundation/siding of your home, you can cause "unwanted critters" to appear.

    When you mulch, your mulch beds should be about 1"-2". Sometimes gardeners will (unknowingly) mulch too much without spreading old mulch around; and the mulch beds will be too "thick". Plants need "breathing space" to properly grow and mature throughout their growing season(s).

    DIY pest control is good and we have done the same method that Neilz mentioned in the past at our homes. Currently, (especially since having kids) we most often will use Natural Pest Control and "old timey remedies" for our vegetable and flower gardens. Also, mulch beds around trees and shrubs should not be "overdone". Spread the old mulch around and layer lightly new mulch.

    Foodie
     

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