Termite Terry’s Insider Information April 2009 Phone (949) 631-7348 Fax (949) 722-6190 www.termiteterry.com
Things Do Change For The Better
Sometimes, it’s fun to take a few minutes and just reminisce about how things have changed and improved during our lifetimes.
I like old T.V. shows and I really get a kick out of watching some of that stuff. Recently, I was watching Hawaii Five – 0 and they were using a computer to locate a murder suspect. They were using one of those old giant computers in a room the size of a super market and it was one of those old machines that used punch cards. Remember those? Just think about how big those things were and then consider that the little PC sitting on top of your desk can do many, many more times the stuff than that giant old dinosaur could! Oh my!
Talking about computers, that reminds me about a place that I was working for back in the eighties. They took away all of my manuals and installed a new computer, instead. And, by the way, they had to build a whole new climate controlled room for this computer. This room had it’s own heating and air conditioning system. That computer was really sensitive and if the temperature varied more than a few degrees, it would malfunction. Now, think about that next time you use your lap top computer. Here you are, carrying that thing all over the place, night and day, in all kinds of rain, wind, sun and IT WORKS PERFECTLY! Not to mention that that little lap top will absolutely run rings around that big old computer with it’s own special room. Oh yea, we didn’t even mention how unbelievably cheap your laptop is compared to the tens of thousands that the old computer cost. Wow, that is real progress!
We’ve seen some big progress in the pest control business, as well. Back in the 1990’s, pest control products were gross. They really smelled foul and were much more toxic than the products that we use today. And, they didn’t always work that well, either.
Back then, if a homeowner had a big ant problem, we would work really hard, do everything right and yet we knew that we’d still have to come back within a week to do an additional service. Today, our new materials are working so well that it’s rare that we have to go back between regular scheduled services. These products have virtually no odor, are longer lasting and are so much safer to use.
Subterranean termite treatments were especially challenging during the 1990’s. Back then, we used products that acted like repellants. They smelled bad and the termites didn’t like the way they tasted.
The idea was that the termites would be repelled away from your home and then leave you alone. Unfortunately, the termites would often pop up somewhere else in the house and we often had to do one or two additional services before the termite problems would go away. Today, call-backs on subterranean termite treatments are almost unheard of around here. That’s why we have absolutely no problem offering you a Money Back Guarantee on our termite treatments. We know that if we treat your home the right way, the termites will be gone and your problems are over!
When you think about it for a minute, you’ll realize that there are a lot of good stories about progress. All I can say is that if you like what you’ve seen so far, hold on to your seat because you’re not going to believe what you’re going to see in just the next ten years. There are a lot of good changes to come!
Well, we’ve got some good stuff to share with you this month, so let’s get going!
Brown Widow Spiders Attack Orange County!
When people talk about poisonous spiders, they usually think of “Black Widow” spiders. You know the ones with the shiny black body with a red hour glass marking on the underside of the abdomen. Many, many are terrified of these spiders and it’s no wonder that they made a movie titled “Arachnophobia”.
Next time you’re outside, working around the house, don’t be surprised if you see a new spider invading your property – the “Brown Widow” spider. When you first look at one of these spiders, it’s easy to mistake them for a “black widow”. But, if you’ll take a closer look, you’ll notice that the body is a lighter color that ranges from a tan to dark brown. You’ll also see that the prominent hour glass marking is a lighter orange or yellowish color.
The “brown widow’s” eggsack is easy to identify because it’s appearance is much different than the “black widow’s”, which appears smooth and silky. You’ll see that the “brown widow’s eggsack resembles a sandspur. They appear “spiky” because they have those pointed projections all over them.
Dr. G.B. Edwards, a University of Florida arachnologist, claims that the “brown widow” venom is twice as potent as the “black widow’s”, but it’s usually confined to the bite area and surrounding tissue. Those that have been bitten describe the experience as very painful. You should be very careful when working or playing in areas where “brown widow” spiders inhabit.
Although many are afraid of being bitten by these pest, they are generally non-aggressive and they will usually retreat if you disturb them.
“Brown widow” spiders have a fondness for buildings and will construct webs in all kinds of man made structures. Look to find them in eave areas around your home, old tires, empty buckets or pots, cluttered closets or garages, patio furniture and even vegetation.
Sanitation is very important when trying to control these pest. The best thing you can do is to routinely clean up and that will discourage them from returning. Be sure and wear gloves when you suspect that these spiders are present. Reducing clutter makes areas less attractive for spiders.
A vacuum cleaner is a very effective tool for the inside of your home or garage. Just make sure that you empty the vacuum into a sealed plastic bag, take the bag outside and dispose of it into a sealed container. Another very effective control strategy is to seal cracks, holes and spaces around doors or windows.
If spider problems persist after sanitation work, treatments with pest control products may be necessary to help eliminate other insects that the spiders eat for their food. If you’ll think about it, it just makes sense – If we clean up, get rid of the spider webs and get rid of the bugs that the spiders eat, your spider problems will go away. Need help to control spider problems at your home or business? Call (949) 631-7348 and we’ll schedule an appointment at your convenience.
“Termite” Terry’s Economic Stimulus Package
This month, we would like to congratulate Mr. Bob Flemming of Huntington Beach for his great referrals and contribution to our economy.
First off, he referred Ron and Linda Smith of Huntington Beach and for that, he will receive a $50.00 gift card from Home Depot. Next, he referred Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka of Huntington Beach and for that referral, he’ll receive another $50.00 Home Depot gift card.
Ladies and gentlemen, you may think that giving away these gift cards is a crazy thing for me to do. But, when you consider the high cost of running an ad in the paper, in a phone book or on the radio, this is a very cost effective way of building a business. For instance, I used to spend over $2,000 a month on Yellow Page ads and we very rarely even got a call, much less a paying customer by running those ads. Hey, I wish I was giving away over $2,000 worth of gift cards every month. Those cards bring in more business and they’re good for your economic situation, too.
Wouldn’t you rather have me send you the money instead of me giving it away to some big advertising agency? It’s easy to join in our program. All you have to do is to keep your ears open and when you hear someone that says they have a pest control problem, or maybe they need termite treatment and repair work done – Just give them our name. You know that we’ll always do our best for them. Don’t forget to tell them to mention that you referred us. And, once we finish their job, your Economic Stimulus Package will be in the mail!
My name is John Thomas and I’ve been a painting contractor for the past 15 years. Over the years, I’ve come behind many different termite companies that have done repairs on homes that I’m going to paint and I’ve seen a lot of shoddy repair work from many of these guys. But, that is not the case with Termite Terry. His work is first rate, everything is plumb, all the holes are filled and corners & miter joints are cut very nicely. It’s a pleasure to come in behind him! It saves me a lot of time and I don’t have to point out more repair problems to the homeowners that will add extra cost to their paint job. If you’re considering Termite Terry for your next termite repair job, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to my friends and business associates.
John Thomas
John Thomas Painting
Huntington Beach
(714) 968-5692
This is to confirm my satisfaction with the reconstruction work accomplished on my house by Termite Terry and his outstandingly professional men that completed the replacement of the material damaged by termites, on time and with excellent results. The work was completed with minimal disruption of household activities.
I would highly recommend that if your house is in the need of inspection and repair of termite damage, this is the company that will do the job quickly and professionally.
Carl Pedan
LtCol. (Ret)
Former Pilot of Air Force One
Fountain Valley
National Stress Awareness Month
April is National Stress Awareness Month and research has linked chronic stress with life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, stroke, depression and chronic pain. Stress may also contribute to bad habits, excessive drinking, smoking and drug abuse.
We all feel stressed out now and then, but if you start to feel this way everyday, that’s when stress becomes chronic. Chronic stress will effect your quality of life, it takes a toll on your body and you will become more susceptible to a host of diseases. Up to 75% of visits to the doctor’s office may be due to stress related ailments.
We all need to take this problem seriously and make some adjustments. Here are a few tips that can make a dramatic improvement in your life:
- Treat your body right. Eat good food and get regular exercise.
- Set realistic and obtainable goals.
- Determine your priorities and let some of the less important stuff go.
- Break big jobs into little projects. That keeps you from getting so overwhelmed and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you complete each step.
- Take a short break and let your mind slow down for a few minutes. This helps you handle stress better.
- Don’t eat while you’re working. Stop, relax and enjoy your food.
- Learn to say no. There comes a time in everyone’s life when you’ve reached your limit and you really shouldn’t try and do anymore.
- Share time with loved ones and talk it out. This will help for you to see things more clearly, get rid of negative feelings and help you get the emotional support you need.
- Have your home regularly serviced by Termite Terry. This helps you sleep better and gives you the peace of mind knowing that your home is pest free!
One of the things that I love most about the internet is that now, consumers can easily find the information they need so that they can make intelligent buying decisions. In the past, it wasn’t very easy to find good information about pest or termite control and most people just had to take our word for it when we made a recommendation. Now, I really like it because so many home and business owners have done their internet research and they really know their stuff. No one is going to fool these folks!
One of the best decisions I ever made was to build my own web site and when you go on line to visit us, you’ll see that we have spent countless hours preparing the information you need most. You’ll find Must Read Special Articles and Reports packed with valuable information that will not only help keep you from making costly mistakes, but also help you save a lot of money! Check out our Full Line of Services, including termite treatments, fumigations, wood repairs and our vast array of pest control services. Our Newsletters are filled with the latest info and interesting, real-life stories about pest and termite control issues that we experience while working in the field. Read Our Rave Reviews so you can see what others are saying about our services. Ordering Inspections and Services is easier and more convenient than ever with our Online Order System. Visit our site at www.termiteterry.com . For those of you that prefer speaking directly to a live person, please call our office at (949) 631-7348. We are open Monday thru Friday, 8am to 5pm. Please remember that we’re closed for lunch from 12 to 1pm.
www.termiteterry.com
“Termite” Terry’s Insider Information is Published by:
“Termite” Terry Pest Control, Inc.
785 W. 17th St. #G, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949)631-7348 www.termiteterry.com