If your’e looking for an honest Terminix review, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover pricing, services offered, tips for stretching your dollar, and more. Read on to learn all you need to know about Terminix.
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What Is Terminix?
If you’re looking for pest control services, you’ve probably heard of Terminix. They’re a nationwide pest control company that services both homes and businesses.
You want to work with the best pest control company to ensure pests don’t stand a chance. Is Terminix a good option?
The discovery of creepy crawlies inside your home or business is the universal signal to begin a desperate search for pest control services.
Upon finding ants, termites, roaches, rodents, bed bugs, or mosquitos taking up residence in or around the home, most of us think one thing:
This house ain’t big enough for the both of us.
In order to send pests packing, calling a pest control company for immediate service is the only solution. Terminix is one of the most popular pest control companies in the United States, so they’re at the top of most home- and business-owner’s lists.
But before you call them for an inspection and pest treatment, you want to know if they’re really the best option.
You might have questions like:
- What pest services does Terminix offer?
- How much are their services (and are there hidden fees)?
- What are the pros and cons of using Terminix?
- Are there other pest control services that are better?
- What do current customers say about Terminix?
As homeowners and business owners ourselves, we understand the importance of hiring a pest control company that won’t let you down.
Sifting through online reviews only shows you part of the picture. Keep reading to learn all about Terminix – the good, the bad, and the bugly – so you can make the best decision for your home or place of business.
About Terminix
Terminix is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee and has been in business since 1927. They cover most of the United States and have more than 300 locations worldwide and offer their services in 22 countries.
Terminix is best known for offering pest (including termite and mosquito) control, wildlife control, and bed bug treatment.
They also offer additional services like home disinfection, attic insulation services, and crawl space protection. They offer free inspections for new clients.
Terminix performs both residential and commercial pest control services to keep bugs out of homes and businesses.
Terminix Services
Terminix’s services include residential and commercial pest control, disinfection, insulation, and crawl space services. Read more about each service they offer below.
1. Residential Pest Control
Terminix residential pest control services target pests and bugs inside and outside the home. Common pests inside and outside the home include:
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Mosquitos
- Bed bugs
- Spiders
- Silverfish
- Flies and gnats
- Wasps and hornets
- Earwigs
- Moths
- Scorpions
- Mice and rats
- Ticks and fleas
- Centipedes
- Crickets
- Boxelder bugs
- Lice
- Ladybugs
- Stinkbugs
- Slugs and snails
- Mites
Overall, Terminix offers treatments for hundreds of species of residential pests. Their residential services start with an initial visit and inspection to determine what types of pests are in and around your home and analysis of the infestation.
The Terminix team will then determine the best treatment options for your home and schedule dates to apply treatments. When you sign up for residential pest control services online, you are given the option to choose a package.
You can choose quarterly general pest control, one-time or monthly mosquito control, or one-time or monthly tick control.
2. Residential Termite Control
Terminix offers residential termite control for the three most common termite species in the United States: Drywood termites, subterranean termites, and Formosan termites.
When you call Terminix or request information about termite control online, the company will schedule an initial inspection for your home.
During that first inspection, a termite specialist will carefully inspect in and around your home to look for signs of termite infestation.
Signs of termite infestation include:
- Mud tubes
- Discarded termite wings
- Termite droppings
- Blistered wood
- Hollow or damaged wood
If signs of termite activity are found, your Terminix specialist will review the options with you for treatment. When you accept and sign up, termite treatments will be applied.
The service is covered by the Ultimate Protection Guarantee. After the initial treatment, termites will begin dying immediately.
Your plan includes annual inspections to ensure the termites don’t come back. If they do, Terminix will treat your home again for free to eradicate them before they can cause expensive damage.
3. Residential Bed Bug Removal
Terminix offers residential bed bug removal services. Bed bugs live in and near places frequented by humans. They are parasitic and feed off human blood. When you call Terminix to exterminate bed bugs, here’s how it works.
A Terminix pest control specialist will come to your home for a complete inspection. They will check beds, furniture, cloth, linens, and other hiding places like electrical outlets.
They look for the following signs of bed bugs:
- Bed bug shells and skins
- Bed bug droppings
- Bed bug dropping stains on fabrics and bedding
- Visible bed bugs and eggs
The initial inspection will allow them to determine how extensive the treatment needs to be – and whether or not you’re actually dealing with bed bugs.
Your pest control specialist will discuss treatment options and plans with you. Once you decide on a treatment plan, your pest control specialist will return for either a one-time or multi-step treatment.
Treatment involves removing visible bed bugs and eggs and treating the affected areas with extermination chemicals or non-toxic options (like steam or dry ice). Once your home has been treated, your service is backed by the Terminix Bed Bug Guarantee.
This guarantee states that if bed bugs are found in the room or area treated within 30 days, Terminix will do another treatment for free. If you purchase a mattress encasement, that guarantee extends to 90 days.
4. Crawl Space Services
Terminix offers crawl space services to control moisture and ensure your crawl space is not a breeding ground for pests that will eventually enter your home or destroy building materials.
Crawl space services offered by Terminix include encapsulation, installation of floor supports, installation of the Temp-Vent, and installation of vapor barriers.
Encapsulation
With the encapsulation service in your crawl space, Terminix installs a moisture barrier to stop termites and fungi from destroying wood and causing expensive structural damage down the road.
Floor Supports
Terminix offers a special service for crawl spaces where they install floor supports. These supports address issues related to water, heat, and termite damage. Floor supports protect your home by supporting the flooring from any of these damages.
Temp-Vent™
The Terminix Temp-Vent™ system is installed in a crawl space to control moisture and make the area less habitable for pests. The Temp-Vent™ opens and closes to regulate moisture. As a benefit, it also increases the energy efficiency of your home.
Vapor Barriers
Terminix offers installation of vapor barriers. These barriers are waterproof and installed on the soil in your crawl space to prevent moisture from seeping into your home’s structure. Vapor barriers also make the space less desirable for pests.
5. Attic Insulation
Terminix offers attic insulation services. A Terminix specialist will apply energy-efficient cellulose insulation atop your original insulation or between attic joists to provide an additional layer of insulation and protection.
This type of insulation is more efficient than batted or blown-in fiberglass insulation. After a free inspection, the insulation can be applied at a cost your specialist discusses with you based on the area’s size.
6. Home Disinfection
Terminix offers a new service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Complete home disinfection. Terminix cleaning specialists use heavy-duty EPA-approved cleaning chemicals that are proven to kill bacteria, pathogens, and known coronaviruses.
Terminix specialists use gloves and PPE (goggles, protective suits, respiratory protection) when entering and working inside your home. All surfaces that the cleaning products are safe to use on will be disinfected during their visit.
You can be sure the process is safe because Terminix representatives follow cleaning and protection protocol, plus regularly clean and disinfect company trucks and service equipment.
7. Commercial Pest Control
Terminix offers pest control services for commercial establishments all over the United States and worldwide.
Business owners can benefit from these services with special bonuses like access to an online portal, fast one-day service, and a range of billing options for convenience.
There’s also a special commercial guarantee. After 90 days, if you are not satisfied that the service has saved you time and benefited customers, Terminix will refund what you’ve paid plus an additional 10%.
Pests covered in commercial services include:
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Mosquitos
- Bed bugs
- Spiders
- Silverfish
- Flies and gnats
- Wasps and hornets
- Earwigs
- Moths
- Scorpions
- Mice and rats
- Ticks and fleas
- Centipedes
- Crickets
- Boxelder bugs
- Lice
- Ladybugs
- Stinkbugs
- Slugs and snails
- Mites
Terminix also offers commercial bed bug removal, bird and wildlife control, and termite extermination services. Commercial services include the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for extra convenience.
This program includes complete inspections of commercial interior and exterior, ID and treatment for all found pests, custom recommendations for the facility based on findings, continual treatments and inspections to control pests, and staff education on pest control and prevention.
Because there are hundreds of Terminix locations, nationwide companies can use Terminix for pest control at every location.
Terminix Pros and Cons
With these services in mind, what are the pros and cons of using Terminix? There are plenty of benefits associated with this pest control company, but a few disadvantages as well. We cover them all below.
Terminix Pros
- Wide coverage nationwide and worldwide: 300+ locations in 22 countries
- Free initial inspections to determine infestations and treatment options
- Fast availability
- One-time, monthly, or quarterly treatments available
- Multiple guarantees to get rid of pests or offer free additional treatments if they emerge within the guarantee period (30-90 days)
- Residential and commercial services available
- Pest prevention as well as pest control services
Terminix Cons
- Pricing transparency could be better; you have to enter your address to get pricing for general pest control and schedule an inspection to get info for termite, bed bug, and other services
- Pricing varies widely by location and infestation severity – quarterly general pest control for an average-sized home in Tennessee is nearly $100 less than the same size home in Pennsylvania
- Poisonous spiders (brown recluse and black widow) are not included in general pest control service, only with premium plans
- Termites, bed bugs, mosquitos, and ticks are not included in general pest control plans
Terminix Plans and Pricing
How much does it cost to use Terminix? The answer varies based on your location, severity of infestation, type of infestation, number of treatments, property size, and treatment type.
However, customer reviews and our own quote request on the Terminix website can give you a better idea of Terminix pricing.
Terminix general pest control (quarterly) ranges from about $118 to $260 for an initial treatment. Subsequent treatments are a little less expensive at $89 to about $120 each.
Mosquito control is $149 for a one-time service and $59/month for monthly service. Tick control starts at about $80/month for monthly service. You can choose a one-time tick control service for a fee, but that is not listed on the website.
Termite extermination (average $1,500), bed bug extermination (average $1,000 to $2,500), wildlife removal (average $250+), and other types of pest control are priced according to the circumstances of the job.
You can get a free inspection and quote by contacting Terminix. They’ll ask you some questions about your home and needs, and at this point they’ll give you a better idea of what it’ll cost.
Terminix Customer Reviews
The best way to get a sense of how reliable a company is checking out real customer reviews. Get the inside scoop on what customers think about Terminix by reading these reviews.
Marlene of West Babylon, NY
I have been using Terminix for several years. They have kept my home bug and pest free. They are reasonably priced and their service technicians are professional and thorough. They are #1 in my book! Thank you Terminix.”
Douglas of Woburn, MA
Terminix comes out to our home for pest service around once or twice a year. We’ve had them for a while and we’re on maintenance. They call us and let us know the time they will arrive beforehand. I’ve talked to their technicians and they’ve been pleasant and fine. We had termites and bees nests for a while as well as a problem with fleas when my son came over with his dog but Terminix took care of those. We haven’t had any trouble in the last three or four years. I’d recommend them.”
Denise of Bogart, GA
We always have had Terminix, and they are fine. They just come and do their job monthly and then leave. Their technician calls us about the scheduling of our service. Very, very friendly and accommodating. If the day that he wants to come does not accommodate us, then he comes the day that we want him to come. I would tell my friends to go with Terminix.”
Michael of Phoenix, AZ
Imagine the most stressful move, when relocating to a different community. Besides the normal stress, we had our buyer’s termite inspection submitted to us with some gray areas. Enough so, that their lender needed clarification. Got a tech out the next day, a treatment completed, a subsequent wdiir generated, and it was enough to satisfy the VA buyer’s lender. She thought out of the box apparently, she should be congratulated and thanked abundantly. She did what others apparently couldn’t, she fixed the issue.”
Sarah of Ocala, FL
I was looking on the internet and reading reviews which then led me to Terminix. They were able to get me scheduled within a week and they had people come out twice within a week period. The first time was for termites and that went great. And then the second service was straightforward and simple. A guy came and asked me what my issues were. I told him that the spiders were an issue and he sprayed. He knew what he needed to do and I just left him to it. When he was finished, I signed the paperwork. He was gone within an hour. Since the service, I have had no problems with pest activity.”
Top Terminix Alternatives
If you’re just not sure about Terminix, you may want to check out these alternatives.
Orkin
- Slightly smaller than Terminix, but also offers nationwide pest control services
- 30-day (residential) and 60-day (commercial) money-back guarantees
- Residential and commercial services in every state but Wyoming, Alaska, and South Dakota
- Similar in cost to Terminix, but some customers report that it is a little more expensive ($475 to $2,000/year)
Visit the website for more information
Erlich
- Much smaller than Terminix and Orkin with 65 locations nationwide
- Specializes in bed bug and cockroach removal, but offers general pest control
- Residential and commercial pest control offered
- No pricing information available online – must call for a free inspection and quote
Visit the website for more information
Terminix: What’s the Overall Rating?
Terminix is probably the most well-known pest control company in the United States. With 300+ locations in 22 countries, a wide range of services, and fair pricing, Terminix is a customer favorite and trusted by millions of homeowners and business owners.
It’s not a perfect company, though. Lack of pricing transparency, occasional mixups with appointment times, and limited pest control services included in the general pest control plan are notable concerns.
However, it receives consistent 5-star reviews from customers, has a great reputation, and has been in business since the 1920s. Terminix seems to be a reliable company that puts its customers and their satisfaction first.
For this reason, we give Terminix a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Have you used Terminix? What Terminix alternatives would you recommend to others looking for quality pest control services?
