FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
The state charges us a fee each time we submit a termite report. Thus we charge a fee as well. A typical termite inspection is $35 dollars. This fee gets refunded back to the customer if we become hired. Inspection fees for home sellers is waived. A pest control estimate is not charged. These are free. Because we do not know what we will find or discover until an inspection is performed.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
There are mostly three types of customers; homeowners, escrow or real estate transactions and property management companies or HOAs. Real estate transactions are critical. Then there are your Re-Fi's. We are EXPERTS in VA and FHA Re-Fi's. There is certain verbiage or language that must be in these type of inspection reports and certifications. You really have to know how the process works in order to be effective and beat deadlines. Homeowners are mostly interested in upkeep of their home and the option of a renewable warranty. HOA's are maintenance type of account. They look for fast inexpensive ways to remedy infestations and effective pest control maintenance.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have over 17 years industry experience. I started in construction as a teen in the summers. Then full time once I finished high school. After that I went into sales and estimating construction projects. I quickly found out that I loved the meeting different people and got a real thrill from a sale or "closing a deal". I then became hired by a termite company doing termite and dry rot repairs. But I missed doing sales. Once I became a licensed inspector I was doing both of the things I love: estimating construction and repair work, and selling jobs. The best of both worlds! I currently the owner-operator of Castro Termite & Pest Control Co. I have a an Operators license in both Branch II and III (One is for termite and wood destroying organisms and the other is for general pest control) I also have a B-1 general contractors license/ This allows me to bid on jobs that are outside of the scope of the Structural Pest Control Board IE: tile, sidewalks, doors and windows, stucco, fences etc.