We needed a termite inspection per purchase agreement for a condo unit in a complex with a Terminix contract on it for which the HOA pays an exhorbitant amt of $$$ yearly. Terminix said if a different company did the inspection, they would not be responsible for that unit going fwd. So we ordered their inspection. Phone person was abrupt, crabby & rude from the beginning, and although the request was made over 8 or 9 days before the closing, I was told that only gave them 1 day to get it done b4 closing because they were all booked up. Appt time was 10-12. Selling agent, seller, seller's adult daughter all there waiting from 10am on. Technician came after 12:10, stayed no more than 5-10 minutes per owner's daughter (this is a 3-story unit), then submitted a report saying there was mold on the back door, inactive termite damage etc...apparently what was on last year's inspection report. Too bad he didn't actually do the inspection... because all of that was repaired, including replacing the suspect door & door trim 4 months ago. PLUS his report says Terminix will do the repairs for $560!! When the agent confronted the technician by phone to tell him where the damage was, the technician got caught in his lies, because the agent saw that the door, trim etc was all new and repainted. So technician said the $560 charge to do the 'repairs' was their MINIMUM CHARGE!--REALLY!!?? Now Terminix phone goes straight to recorder, have left many mssgs that we need a reinspection and clearance so that we can close out the escrow. Although inspection report stated 'no active infestation', and repairs have been made previously, technician says Terminix won't clear the unit unless THEY get $560 for THEIR 'repairs'. This is extortion. Use Western Exterminators or anybody else, and run--don't walk--from Terminix!! Also, the escrow company stated that Terminix is TERRIBLE to deal with and truly BAD NEWS based on multiple experiences with them!
more