PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

DON’T LET PESKY PESTS EAT YOU OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME

Three decades — that’s how long Canton Termite and Pest Control owner Tim McWhirter has been in the termite and pest control industry. During that time, he has gained valuable experience, completed ongoing education on the newest and best industry innovations, and built a familyowned company with excellent team members.

Tim has seen many economic shifts in his career, and has crucial advice for homeowners navigating today's housing market.

“In this time of rising interest rates and historically high home values, we are seeing many homeowners choosing to stay in their current homes longer, making home maintenance critical in preserving the value of their investment,” he said.

More Than Changing Batteries

Most of the time, home maintenance makes us think of simply replacing furnace filters and smoke alarm batteries. What often is overlooked is the damage that can be caused by the lowly termite. Termite damage often is severe. Homeowners in the U.S. spend around $5 billion each year on repairs, with more than 600,000 homes suffering damage annually. Termites literally can eat you out of house and home.

“When you consider the cost of potential termite damage, repairs can be very expensive,” Tim said. “It’s easy to underestimate termites, which often are an unseen, destructive force as they work their way into your home from underground, hiding in your walls and floors as they feed on any wood-based materials, including framing, wallpaper, furniture, siding and even paintings.”

Termites can be an obstacle if you want to sell your home. Real estate transactions require a termite inspection letter for closing, which is obtained after a thorough inspection of your home by a licensed pest expert, to determine whether there are any signs of active termite infestation. If issues are discovered, the sale of your home can be jeopardized.

“It is better to take care of any problem now, than to wait until you have a buyer looking over your shoulder,” Tim said.

“We are in the middle of termite swarm season right now, so termites are more active than normal,” Tim said. “I highly recommend homeowners consider scheduling a free estimate to ensure their home isn’t at risk.”

Prevention Is The Key

The name of the game with termites is prevention. Just as you get regular maintenance on your vehicle, your home needs ongoing inspections and preventive treatment to protect it from infestation. Start by having a licensed, reputable pest control company provide a reliable treatment and an ongoing maintenance warranty to give you peace of mind.

A service agreement for treatment is called a termite bond, which provides three key protections:

1. Initial comprehensive home termite inspection.

2. Treatment solutions to protect your home from a termite infestation.

3. Ongoing inspections and monitoring services.

Homeowners who acquire a termite bond can ensure that signs of infestation are detected and addressed quickly and effectively.

CANTONTERMITE.COM

A Revolutionary Treatment

A variety of treatment options is available, from liquid products that kill and repel termites to solid bait products that attract termites to poisoned food sources. According to Tim, however, nothing on the market beats the Termidor HP Injection treatment.

“We have used a variety of treatment methods over the years. All are effective, but they have drawbacks that might make them less desirable for homeowners. Traditional liquid treatment requires less ongoing monitoring, much like the injection treatment, but the technicians must dig a trench around the home and possibly disrupt landscaping,” he said.

“Bait systems are less intrusive, but they must be planted in the soil around the house, which can disturb landscaping and must be monitored more often, which increases the annual cost.”

The Termidor Injection treatment bypasses these issues by using a precision injection tool to deposit liquid termiticide products deep into the soil, with essentially no disruption of the surrounding area. The onboard calibrated system calculates treatment volumes, making sure the perfect amount of product is used to protect your home, for up to 10 years.