Em wrote:
My annual home termite inspection and "insurance" policy has been costing
$125 per year. This year, now that the house has been standing five years,
the exterminator wants to do a $445 "booster" treatment. I thought the
barrier remains intact for many years until the soil is disturbed, so I
asked why the house would need a booster, and the lady said the barrier has
been breaking down over the five years because of "walking in the yard". Is
the a bona-fide service they are offering?
-BAM

Since they stopped using chlordane, I don't believe that there is any
long lasting chemical barrier. If you are observant, as other
respondant indicated, you are wasting money on inspections and
treatments. I've saved over 30 years without problems. OTOH my next
door neighbor ignored the termites in his wood pile next to the house
and did not call exterminator until he saw them flying in his basement.
Then he got the full treatment. Before the juvenile hormones killed
the nest, I was seeing them in wood 20 ft from my house. That year, I
put out, I think they are called "Terminate" stake and also I spray
foundations a couple of times of year because of ants, and termites did
not visit me.
Frank