April 2008 / Vol.5 / Issue 4

Hello and Welcome to the April Greenpest News. Each month we aim to provide you with some useful information, keeping it short, sweet and pertinent.

Contents

1. Pest Talk - Termite Inspections
2. Price of Panic
3. Customer Email of the Month.
4. Monthly Special.

Pest Talk

We have made a new video…

You can view it here.

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Annual Termite Inspections – Are they needed?

One of the most common questions we hear goes like this, “Now that I have a Green Termite Bait System protecting my home, do I still need to keep up my annual inspections on the home for termites?”

The short answer: Yes. 

Sensibly, the Australian Standards recommend that every property (at risk of termites) in Australia should be checked for termites at least once a year – regardless of whether they are brand new or 50 years old – and regardless of whether they have adequate termite protection in place or not.  It is our duty of care as responsible termite protection managers to make this point abundantly clear.

Statistically, Green Termite Baits offer better than 99% protection when they are correctly installed, properly monitored and appropriately treated by a professional.  In other words, your home has a significantly reduced risk of termite attack.  However, there is still a slight risk.  And this risk can be reduced even further by following the steps that we outline in our Termiproof Warranty Plan.

Let’s assume that the risk of termite damage occurring in a home protected by a standalone Green Termite Bait System is half of one percent.  This means that five homes in one thousand might suffer some damage from termites (0.5% x 1,000 = 5).  The other 995 homes are safe.  The problem is: how can anyone know which five homes in particular, especially considering that we are dealing with insects as wily and cunning as termites?

If you were unfortunate enough to find your home in the group of five, you wouldn’t be happy, but you would probably be thankful that you wisely decided to have the termite inspection carried out.  At least you caught the termites early, before they had a chance to do too much damage.  Of course if you get a termite inspection and no termites are found, it isn’t a waste of your money either (as some seem to think), because now you know your house is safe, and that, is definitely peace of mind well worth having.

However, human nature being what it is - our experience bears out the fact that most people tend to look at the (prohibitive) cost of investing in an annual termite inspection and report and subconsciously decide to run the odds and skip it.  Let’s face it, 99.5% protection is pretty good, right?  Why spend $200 - $500 getting a report?

Note: If you are a bit of a DIY person, then you could invest in some Ec2c Termite Windows and a copy of our termite manual, “Termite Inspection for Home Owners”.

It’s amazing that despite the many lurid termite stories which make regular horrific headlines and great ratings for the “current affair” media piranhas, the vast majority of home owners still ignore the warnings and do absolutely nothing at all about termite management.  With national statistics from the Department of Primary Industries suggesting that 33% of homes are likely to suffer damage from termites at some point… doing nothing?  Now that is plain (stick your head in the sand, I don’t want to know) crazy!

Then again, we all do crazy things.  It’s the nature of the human race to take risks.  Some people smoke even though they know they are risking their health.  Some people still drink and drive and risk other people’s lives as well as their own.  Some gamble all their money even though the odds are against them and they are broke to prove it.  The list is endless.

People with no termite protection are gambling with their homes.  It’s really no different to being deficient in regular home insurance (except the odds are so bad the insurance companies don’t cover termite damage… Do you think they know something?).  Millions of dollars are spent on repairs and treatments every year by home owners who have become victims of termites.  In fact many of our clients and many of you who are reading this are more the wiser, because “once bitten, twice shy” seems to be the norm when it comes to termites.

Termite inspections do not directly protect your home from termite damage.  What they do, is limit the amount of damage to the period of time between inspections.  So if you only get your home checked once every three years, you could conceivably suffer three years worth of damage if termites were to enter the home shortly after the previous inspection.  If the same home was checked annually, then there would be significantly less damage, and if it was checked every 6 months, even less again.

How much damage?  That will depend on the structure of the home, timbers used, the particular type of termite species, and the size of the colony or colonies infesting the home.

So… what kind of risk are you happy with?  If worrying about termites is costing you sleep, then regular termite inspections are for you.  Conversely, our experience is that the majority of people are happy to simply rely on their Green Termite Bait System and run the odds… better than 99% protection is pretty darn good.

Finally, we would advise that if your home hasn’t been professionally inspected for termites in the past three years or more, then do it – it’s about time.  Better to be safe than sorry.

Apologies to our long term newsletter subscribers; we beat this same drum every year, for good reason – it’s too easy to get blasé about termites.

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The high price of panic.

It’s understandable that people panic when they find termites in their home.  It’s only natural.  If you don’t have any experience with termites it’s easy to imagine the worst.  Some people irrationally fear that if they don’t do something in 24 hours then the house will fall down.  That simply isn’t true.  It takes termites months to do major structural damage.

So when we are asked if we can get a technician there straight away, we understand the client’s need for urgent attention.  However our professional termite technicians are very busy and often can’t fit someone in for a free quote and some helpful advice for a day or two.  The termites have probably been in the house for weeks, possibly months.  Very little additional damage will occur in a few days. Although we try to persuade people NOT to panic, many simply can’t wait and keep searching through the phonebook until they hit upon someone who can call out straight away.

This can become a worse problem than the termites, because the home owner hasn’t taken the time to get additional advice or second opinions.  They’ve hurriedly rushed in and gullibly paid money for whatever was suggested.  The problem with this approach is that if it is overpriced or the wrong advice, they are stuck with it.

We have spoken to people who in a moment of panic paid $5,000 for a termite treatment, when a $200 treatment would have sufficed.  The panic buying has cost them more than the termites ever did.  We have also seen people pay $5,000 for a treatment that could have been done better by another company for $2,500 if only they had shopped around.  It’s even crazier when people pay for a termite treatment when they don’t even have termites!  One elderly lady we met had a little bit of fungal decay in a door frame.  She had found a soft spot, panicked and called a pest control company that lied to her, said it was termites, said her house would be destroyed if she didn’t act straight away, and terrified her into writing an immediate cheque for $4,750!  Then all they did was a quickie job that she never needed in the first place.

Pretty disgusting wouldn’t you say?  It’s sad to report that this sort of unethical fraud is perpetrated on termite panicked people far too often (even smart people!).

So, here are four rules to guide you if you do find termites in your home:

• Rule 1: Don’t panic.
• Rule 2: Don’t disturb the termites or try to treat them yourself, you’ll only make it harder to treat correctly, hence possibly more expensive.
• Rule 3: Don’t ignore them either.  Ring around and get several quotes (it may take a week to gather them all in) then go with the company that you trust the most; that offers a solution that makes sense, regardless of whether it is the cheapest or the dearest or somewhere in-between.  Price alone is not a good reason to pick a company.  If you want the best results, then your intuition and good sense should be what guides you to select the best company.

Some more tips:

• Get three (free) quotes.
• Be home when the quotes are given.
• Never get a quote over the phone – we know of one disreputable company that quotes $5,000 flat rate over the phone for all termite jobs regardless of circumstances.  They don’t even look at the house!  Shear madness, yet they get panicky victims all the time.
• Ask questions, even if you think they might be silly.
• Listen to the answer and compare it to the answer from any other termite technicians you have spoken to.
• Does the technician sound knowledgeable, informed and helpful?
• Is the person giving the quote, doing the job?
• How experienced is the person(s) doing the job?
• Ask to see their licence.
• When in doubt, get a second opinion on the quote you’ve received.

Our free service to you: Should you wish, you can ring us and run a quote by one of our senior staff and we will advise whether the quote sounds reasonable or not.  It’s only an opinion, but it could help you to get the best job for your needs, save you some money, steer you away from trouble or simply put your mind at ease.

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Customer Email of the Month.

The following email and responses are slightly edited for privacy purposes.

Question:

Hi Jerry,

On Monday over a coffee, I listened as my brother David, who is a Real Estate Agent, talk to some visitors to Mirboo North looking to purchase.  His topic?  Our high Termite infestation!

He is an honest fellow, rare I know, and he services his vendors and purchasers well. [Reputation to keep in a small country town]

David and I spoke afterwards and I told him about your service and how impressed I was with what you do.

He agreed that we are seriously lacking in having a good Pest Control service in our area. Even these visitors asked if people followed up on Termite control and my brother said "No, they wait till the verandah falls down" [which is basically true] to which we all laughed.
 
Do you have some brochures and leaflets that could be put in David’s Office and how much is the Green Pest book you have?

It would be good to purchase one and keep it in the Office, also on display.
 
Get back to me as soon as you are able. Thanks Jerry,
 
Kind regards,
 
Ann Tree. 

Reply:

Hi Ann,

We have mailed the latest brochures to you today.

It’s appreciated that you will put some in David’s office.  The termite manual is 140 pages, ring-bound, full colour for $77.

Thanks again,

Jerry

Response:

Hi Jerry,

Walked out the door this morning and received your brochures you sent, on the doorstep. They are very good and I have put some in David’s office this morning.

One more thing I would like to ask you.  Is it possible to become a rep for your Green Termite Bait System?  If so, what would you require of me?

Just thinking!  I could run it alongside my Gardening Business.  I think it could go well down here.

Hope this finds you fit and healthy.

Regards,
Ann.

Response:

Hi Ann,

Thank you for your email. We’d be happy to make you a ‘green level’ (Supplier only) distributor. You would be listed on our web site and potential customers in the Gippsland area will be able to find you.

Our only requirement is that your minimum initial purchase is 10 packs.  If they are put on display in the right place they should sell quite quickly.

Please advise if you wish to get some packs.

At your service,
Jerry Furnell
Providing effective termite solutions,
Green Termite Bait Systems
Ph 1800 056 055

Newsletter readers please note:

If you feel you are in a suitable business that may have an opportunity to sell our products and you would like to do so; please contact us and we can discuss some options.

Suitable businesses:

• Building trade.
• Garden Nurseries.
• Hardware.
• General store.
• Produce shop.

The above list is just a few quick ideas.  If you have some ideas of your own to contribute, please call.  We are always open to suggestions.

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Did you know?

If a Green Termite Bait is installed under a house in a totally dark area then the termites may not mud over the window, simply because there is no light entering the bait to bother them.

When you check the bait you may actually see the termites moving about under the Ec2c window.

Monthly Special Promotion.

This special is no longer available. Please go to our current newsletter for this month's special.

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The Greenpest News is Published by J & A Furnell Nominees P/L; Shop 23a Franklin Square, 60 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of Jerry Furnell. The reader is encouraged to seek further information from appropriate government and statutory departments before taking any action based on this material alone.

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See you again next month.

Always... At your service,

Jerry Furnell
Green Pest Control & Green Termite Bait Systems.
Phone 1800 6 12345.

Copyright 2008 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

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