Feb 8, 2012 | Termite Control
Termite Threats:
- Termites are responsible for more than $2 billion of damage in the US each year.
- Termites cause more damage in a year than fires, floods, and tornadoes.
- One termite colony may contain several hundred thousand termites
These are pretty frightening statistics. Our goal is not to scare you but to make you aware of the potential threat that termites can have on your home. We also want to provide you with tools to prevent and treat any potential issues you may have. Northwest Exterminating offers several termite protection options for your home. For more information on how you can prevent your home from getting termites visit us online.
Try this FREE termite risk calculator to see if termites are a current or future threat to your home.
Jan 20, 2012 | Termite Control
Having a home inspected for Wood Destroying Organisms is critical. Many homes in Georgia have a termite warranty, however this may or may not cover any damages caused by termites. A termite warranty does not protect you from the other wood destroying organisms such as Powder Post Beetles, Wood Boring Beetles, Drywood Termites, and Wood Decaying Fungi. Even if a home has a termite warranty, it may not have been inspected for years. Yearly inspections are not required by Georgia law. So protect yourself and your investment by demanding an Official Georgia Wood Infestation Report from a licensed Georgia pest control operator. This will help you make an informed decision including the history of evidence of both past and present infestations of Wood Destroying Organisms.
Nov 9, 2011 | Company News, Termite Control
In this housing economy, Realtors are more important than ever. We know that you take your job seriously and want to do what’s in your customer’s best interest at all times. That’s why Northwest Exterminating has a whole team that is specifically devoted to serving Realtors!
We offer you peace of mind and treat your customers as our own. Although termite letters are no longer required in the state of Georgia, we all know that having a professional termite inspection and peace of mind is worth the time and effort. A termite letter is a great selling tool that gives a buyer comfort in knowing the house is free of termites.
We assist real estate agents in the buying and selling process by providing:
To schedule your FREE termite inspection CLICK HERE! To find out more about our Realtor Services CLICK HERE!
Aug 12, 2011 | Termite Control
When you live in multi-unit housing, such as an apartment, condo or town home, it is difficult to protect your home from termites when your neighbor does not have termite protection. That is why it is so important that your community’s HOA offers termite protection for you and your neighbors.
Termites come from underground which means that they can enter your neighbor’s home and travel into your home. Maintaining a blanket warranty in your community will protect each unit from the threat of termites ensuring peace of mind for the entire community.
A blanket termite warranty can be beneficial when a unit is being sold. It is difficult to obtain a repair warranty on an attached home when being sold. With a blanket termite warranty, the repair warranty can be transferred to the new buyer. This gives peace of mind knowing that just because your neighbor moved, the termite warranty is still valid and your home is still protected.
Blanket renewals save the home owners money on their termite warranties. The cost of a blanket renewal is usually half the cost of an individual repair warranty.
Termite Warranty Tips:
- All termite warranties are not created equal. Look around at the different termite warranties for what works best for your community.
- Always read the Terms and Conditions of your warranty and know what is covered.
- A repair warranty is not the same as a retreat warranty.
- Always verify the amount of coverage you have under your warranty.
- Is previous infestation covered if you change termite companies?
- Research the termite company that carries your warranty. How long have they been in business? Check their references. How do they rank in customer service?
Aug 10, 2011 | Termite Control
We’ve told you before that termites cause more damage in a year than earthquakes, tornadoes and fires put together. We’ve also talked about ways to prevent termite damage to your home once you are living in it but what about how to protect your home before you ever move in? Whether building your dream home or buying a new construction home, it is important to ask the builder how the home has been protected against termites. In most cases, the builder is the one who selects the termite company and termite treatment type.
Prevention is always a better and less expensive option than waiting until you have termite damage to take action. When pre-treating a home, the treatment area is easier to access and therefore requires less product than it would in an existing structure. Pretreatments aren’t just for new homes. They should be completed when any new structure is added to your home or property. If not, termites can surface and end up in the wood of the newly constructed area.
Termites cause over $5 billion in termite damage each year and is not covered by most home insurance policies. Some termite companies, such as Northwest Exterminating offer a damage repair warranty that will protect you and your home should you ever experience termite damage.
Northwest Exterminating offers 3 different pretreatment options:
• Sentricon
• Borate Wood Treatments
• Soil Treatment
To contact Northwest Exterminating’s New Construction team please call us at 888.466.7849 or click HERE
Jul 29, 2011 | Pest Control, Termite Control
Check out these interesting facts about pests that you probably didn’t know!
For more than 3,000 years carpenter ants have been used to close wounds in India, Asia and South America
Each year, insects eat 1/3 of the Earth’s food crop
The queen of a termite colony may lay 6,000 to 7,000 eggs per day, and may live 15 to 50 years
Cockroaches can survive underwater for up to 15 minutes
Did you know that you are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than a poisonous spider
Jul 15, 2011 | Company News, Going Green, Pest Control, Termite Control
We recently discussed the difference between termite damage and termite activity.
If you do not have a current termite control company and are shopping around there are a few things that you should be looking for:
How long has the company been in business? If you are receiving quotes from 2-3 companies and one is considerably lower in price, be careful. You don’t necessarily want the cheapest because it could mean they are on the downfall and you’d be stuck with the same scenario even after spending several hundred dollars. Ever see a “going out of business sale” sign? There’s a reason everything is marked down 70% or more. They’re no longer worried about the effectiveness of their product. They just want to get rid of it to make a little money before they close.
Do they have different options in termite protection/pest protection, such as “green” services? Some people could care less about “going green” when it comes to bugs and termites. However, it is important to think about what “green” means. Green pest products are made up of botanical plant particles and minerals. Natural earth derived products are an important aspect of the exterminating industry. For years, pest companies have poured, pumped and sprayed millions of gallons of chemicals into the ground worried about keeping bugs away from homes, children and pets. Why are we concerned about keeping bugs away but have no problem with letting our families and pets be around harmful chemicals? Most companies have a form of “green” control but ask them what their products are made from and to give you a list of products they use. More importantly, ask if they keep their traditional and green products and equipment separate from each other so that there is no cross-contamination. Finally, for those few who still don’t care about the environment, I still urge you to go with a green solution. Most companies with a green solution still have access to traditional products but the goal is to only treat those as needed. Use green products around your home on a regular basis and if the need calls for it, traditional products can be used in a much smaller area upon request.
Go with a company that can provide several services. If you have ants in your kitchen, termites in your garage and mosquitoes in your backyard you don’t want to have to call three different companies. That’s three different appointments that you have to take time out of your schedule for, three different bills and three different agreements. Wouldn’t it be much easier to make one phone call and set up one appointment with one company? It’s much easier to remember who to call when anything comes up in the future and know they make you a high priority because they would stand to lose a lot more if they were to disappoint you.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center Manager
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Jul 13, 2011 | Termite Control
It is very important for a consumer to understand that there is a huge difference between termite damage and termite activity. Year after year, I go into homes that may or may not have either of the two and regardless I can say that at the very least it “freaks people out.” Understandably so, no one wants to have termites eating away at their biggest investment. It is very important to have someone who can not only treat your home but also provide regular inspections to make sure that there is no activity present.
Termite activity always comes first! Just because the termites are there doesn’t mean they have caused any termite damage yet. Remember that they are essentially wild animals. They will choose to feed when and where they please. It is completely up to them. It is important that proper visibility for the termite inspector is allowed. There should not be large amounts of storage covering areas where visibility is impossible. Make sure that all areas, particularly exterior walls, are clear of storage. If termite activity can be found in it’s early stages then it can be resolved before the “damage is done.”
If you suspect that your home could have either termite damage or termite control, call an exterminator…call Northwest Exterminating to protect your home.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center Manager
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Apr 4, 2011 | Termite Control
Buying and/or selling a home is a rewarding task…but can also be a stressful task. Once you’ve found the home of your dreams you go through great length to ensure that it is up to code and everything is in good condition. But some people miss out on a very vital step…the termite letter!
Approximately 65% of all clearance letters issued on homes older than 5 years reflect previous termite or other wood destroying organism infestations. Our data indicates that 1/4 of all clearance letters require some form of termite treatment.
Termites are responsible for more damage to homes than water and fire combined – $11 billion annually in the U.S.
Tips for Buyer:
- In most cases foreclosure homes have not been inspected for termite activity in many years. The Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report (termite letter) is a minimal investment to protect your great find.
- If the property you are considering buying has had previous infestations, the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report (termite letter) will have a diagram of the property identifying the affected areas. Your home inspector can use that diagram to inspect those areas to determine, in his opinion, the degree of damage.
Tips for Seller:
- If the property is not under warranty with any company and the property needs treatment, this expense could become a negotiating issue for the sale of the property.
- To obtain a marketing advantage, be proactive by getting a termite inspection and an Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report (termite letter) prior to marketing your home.
- A tranferrable warranty is a strong selling feature.
Northwest Exterminating offers the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report (termite letter) which you can request ONLINE or over the phone.
