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THINGS

TERMITES

DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW!5

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You’ve heard a lot of news about termites. You probably know someone who has had termites in the past (or maybe even have had them yourself). the truth is that these six-legged monsters are out there, looking for the next place to live.

the good news is that a termite’s worst enemy (besides the termite elimination professional) is an alert and savvy homeowner!

this ebook is designed to give you insight into these nasty little home wreckers. You’ll know what to look for and what to do to protect your house against them.

termites cause millions of dollars of damage to property every year, so it’s important to know if you have a problem so you can call in the pros to rectify the situation.

don’t be another statistic. Take acTion Today.

THINGS

TERMITES

DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW!5

address 7400 East Bell RoadScottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone Main: 480.874.8048West Valley: 623.582.5505East Valley: 480.874.8048

faX 623.869.8739

email jeff@budgetbrotherstermite.com

www.BudgetBrothersTermite.com

contents

introductionFive Things Termites Don’t Want You To Know! .................................... 2

chaPter oneKnow Your Enemy ..................................................................................... 4

chaPter twoYou Know You Have Termites When You See Swarming ..................... 5

chaPter threeHave You Found Mud Tubes? If So, You Have Termites! ...................... 6

chaPter fourTermites’ Favorite Hangouts at Your Place ............................................. 7

chaPter fiveOther Warning Signs You May Have Termites ....................................... 8

chaPter siXRemain Alert ............................................................................................... 9

bonus chaPterQuestions to Ask When Hiring a Termite Elimination Company ......10

thanK You!A Brief Note From The Budget Brothers ..............................................11

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chaPter oneKnow Your enemy

There are three large groups of termites in the US that are of concern to homeowners: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood.

No matter what type of termite you’re faced with, their home life is the same. The colonies are decentralized and can include from 10,000 to 1 million members across nearly a half acre of land. That means they can move across properties from home to home, whether those homes are close to each other or a little farther away.

Subterranean termites live under the earth or mud. Several species are found in the United States, and they live in every state except Alaska.

Drywood termites tend to take up residence in the walls and furniture they are consuming as food. They are found in the southern part of the US, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast, the southwest, and into the coastal areas of California.

Dampwood termites infest damp and decaying wood and are commonly found in the Pacific Coast states of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, California, and Washington.

In Arizona, we are most likely to find subterranean and drywood varieties of termites. This means that despite living in the desert, we’re not immune from finding these nasty critters in our homes. In fact, termite infestation is an epidemic for Phoenix homeowners.

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chaPter twoYou Know You have termites when You see swarming

Unfortunately, it is challenging to determine if termites are present in a home until the damage is spotted. However, there is a way to identify termite colonies without a building collapsing around you: swarming.

Swarms are composed of a certain type of termite, swarmers, which are sexually mature males and females. The swarmers have wings and can be seen around windows and doorways of a home. As rain and warmer temperatures occur (spring in the northern US and winter in the southern US), these mature termites prepare to leave the colony to establish new homes of their own. Typically, swarming occurs at night but not always. The swarmers are not strong flyers, and although they do try, most are carried away with the wind to distances not far from the original colony.

Walking around the home during times of swarming will immediately make the termite problem visible. The insects are small, black, and have large wings. To the untrained eye, termite swarmers may be incorrectly identified as ants.

Also keep in mind that, since swarmers don’t go very far, they will worsen the issue by forming yet another colony, most likely on your property.

No matter what, if you’re not sure, call someone. It’s better to be told you’ve got an ant problem than to be sitting on a growing swarm of termites waiting to eat you out of house and home!

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chaPter threehave You found mud tubes? if so, You have termites!

Although termites aren’t readily visible at all times, there is certainly evidence of them around the property. Subterranean termites build mud tubes — sometimes called shelter tubes — which are their mode of transportation between their colonies and yours — your home. The tubes are built from tiny pieces of soil, wood, and debris.

Think of them as little subways that help the colony members to move around under your yard and in your walls. In addition to acting as transportation canals, the tubes protect the colony from predators and help to conserve moisture. The tubes are only pencil thin and are often built in between crevices, such as blocks or bricks. A trained eye can find them on a thorough walk around the home for a termite inspection.

Since termites leave their mud tubes empty when they move on, finding the canals does not necessarily mean you have a termite problem. Rather than waiting to see if the termites come back, it’s better to contact a professional right away. A good termite inspector can find termite tubes on your property and will be able to tell if they’re still active.

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chaPter fourtermites’ favorite hangouts at Your Place

Termites, like other animals, need three main things to survive: food, water, and warmth. Wood is the ideal food for termites, so they will look for areas that are near wood and water. This can occur when a home with insufficient grading meets up with run-off from an air-conditioning unit, or when irrigation systems leak near the home. Termites will develop their colony close to these locations and then feed on surrounding food sources.

Any type of home construction can attract termites since they feed off most plant materials: dead plants and trees and dead parts of living trees are their food sources. Naturally, if your home has any wood materials in the foundation, walls, or floors, it can look like dinner to a colony of termites (hint, almost every house has wood in its construction).

Another hiding place for termites is in piles of wood, such as firewood kindling or dead branches and plant materials that have accumulated on the property. This means that keeping the yard clean and free of debris isn’t just a way to satisfy your HOA – it’s a way to tell the termites that your house is not a buffet open for business!

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chaPter fiveother warning signs You might have termites

There are some signs that let homeowners know termites can be a problem. Naturally, swarming and mud tubes are excellent indicators. If you are looking for drywood termites, knock on wood furniture or beams to see if there is a hollow sound.

Cracked or bubbling paint, either on the exterior or interior of the home, may mean termites are afoot. And termite droppings look like small piles of pellets. They can be found inside the home or along the perimeter when termites are active.

Termite damage often looks similar to water damage and, as such, can be misdiagnosed by an untrained eye. Buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, and areas that appear to have slight water damage may indicate a termite infestation. Termites also emit a scent that is reminiscent of mold or mildew, further confusing the issue. Antique or previously owned furniture should be thoroughly inspected for cracked veneers and visible mazes inside of the wood.

If you suspect termites, it is nearly a futile effort to continue on your own. Instead, call a trusted pest control professional who will be able to assess the level of damage and remove the termites from your property.

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chaPter siXremain alert

Keep your eyes and ears open in your neighborhood!

Talk to your neighbors, look for pest elimination service vehicles, and pay attention to any announcements of termite activity in community publications.

Termites don’t care whose property they are on or where the fence stops, odds are that if a neighbor near you has termites, you may have them too.

A termite inspection is a small cost to pay to learn that everything is clear.

Even though termites may not have enough time to destroy your house before you sell it, you better be sure that if your buyer has a good Realtor they’re going to insist on an inspection. And the last thing you want is for the sale of your property to get shut down because you ignored warning signs.

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do You belong to a Professional organization?

Termite inspectors and pest control professionals should be involved in a professional group, such as the American Association of Professional Inspectors or National Pest Management Association. This lets you know they are continuing their education.

are You licensed?The state of Arizona licenses pest management services. You can check them out online at the State of Arizona Office of Pest Management (http://opm.azda.gov/). Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination is licensed by the state of Arizona to provide services for residential, commercial, day care, and medical facilities.

do You offer a warrantY?Many pest professionals guarantee their services and will come back to re-spray for a period of time. Find out what that is. All service provided by Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination includes a 1-year warrantee.

are You bbb accredited?The Better Business Bureau makes it their mission to evaluate companies that provide professional services to consumers. When talking to a termite elimination company, find out whether they are accredited and their rating. Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating. We also have an A+ rating with Angie’s List.

bonus chaPterQuestions to ask when hiring a terminte elimination company

Finding termites in your home or on your property can be scary, especially knowing how much damage they’re apt to cause. If you are in the market for a new home, you should insist that your home inspection also includes a termite inspection so that you can have the right knowledge before making a buying decision. If, however, you already own the property and believe that termites are an issue, you can’t just walk away. You need to get help — and you need to get it soon. When you are ready to hire a termite company, here are some questions you should be asking:

what does the insPection include? An inspection should take place before you contract for services. Find out what will be inspected. Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination’s inspection includes a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of the home. We look for evidence of termite feeding, breeding and droppings. With over 25 years experience, we don’t miss any trick termites have.

how much will the insPection cost?Many companies offer free inspections, or if they do charge and termites are found, they may apply that investment toward the total cost. In the case of a real estate transaction, termite inspections are typically not free, so find out what the charge is. Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination offer low cost termite inspections. Prices vary based on property size.

call Budget Brothers Termite & Pest elimination Today For your Free Quote at 602.253.2495!

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thanK You!budget brothers termite & Pest elimination is glad help keep you one-step ahead from the rotten wood munching invaders we all love to hate.

trust your termite inspection with a company that has over 25 years dealing with these pests and a solid track record with the bbb. You will not be disappointed.

call Us Today at 602.253.2495 To Schedule your Termite inspection.