Terminix Review 2023

Written By: Amy Poole

Edited By: Andrew Dunn

Terminix launched nearly a century ago when founder E. L. Bruce began to search for a way to protect his wood flooring from termite damage. Alongside chemist Frank Lyons, Bruce developed the first pesticide designed to kill termites – which they later realized was an innovative formula to solve all manner of pest problems. 

Since then, the company has grown to more than 11,700 employees, 380 locations worldwide and over 2.9 million customers to date.

Today, Terminix and its team of highly trained scientists and technicians use a combination of chemicals, organic treatments and preventative measures to make sure their customers’ pest problems are controlled. 

In this article, we’ll dive deep into Terminix’s pest control offerings to help you decide if this company is the right provider for your home.

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Pros and cons of Terminix

Terminix plans

Terminix’s services are offered as a one-time treatment to address an active infestation, or as a regular service plan. With this option, the company schedules visits quarterly to take care of pest problems you have and to help prevent pests from entering your home.

A one-time treatment will depend heavily on the problem your home is facing. However, all customers get a thorough review of the inside and outside of the home. After the treatment, if the pests come back within 30 days, Terminix will return at no additional charge.

Ongoing plans can also vary based on the specific type of pest your home is susceptible to. With pests like mosquitoes and termites, your plan may be tailored specifically to those insects. Visits are scheduled quarterly, but if pests return in-between treatments, Terminix will come out immediately to address the problem.

Terminix’s standard pest control plan

Terminix provides protection primarily against mice and rats, cockroaches, spiders and ants. However, the company includes a significant number of other insects and bugs under its standard plan. The full list is as follows:

• Cockroaches
• Mice
• Rats
• Silverfish
• “House” ants
• Clothes moths
• Spiders
• Scorpions
• Centipedes
• Millipedes
• Earwigs
• House crickets
• Paper wasps
  

Carpenter ants, fire ants, pharaoh ants and tawny crazy ants are not included, nor are black widow or brown recluse spiders. 

Terminix may still be able to help you if your pest problem comes from something other than these creatures, but you may have to pay a higher price. For things like termites, mosquitoes and ticks, you’ll choose one of the other plans listed below.

If you sign up for the quarterly plan, the process is fairly straightforward. First, Terminix will send technicians to inspect your home and treat the interior and exterior as needed. Then, they’ll return every three months to re-inspect your home and take care of any issues. If problems arise in between visits, Terminix will send someone out for free.

Quick Guard® Mosquito Service

If you’re only concerned about mosquitoes, Terminix offers its “Quick Guard Mosquito Service” to combat mosquitoes in your yard. This plan involves monthly applications to keep mosquitoes away. Their mosquito treatment is designed to withstand rain and lawn watering.

Tick Defend System®

If ticks are your problem, the Terminix Tick Defend System targets all types of tick species found in the U.S. It’s a liquid and granular treatment used for outside spaces, which acts as a barrier to keep ticks away. This service includes one-time and monthly treatments.

Termite Control

Terminix specializes in and puts a lot of emphasis on termite control. It’s how the company started and where Terminix holds patents for termite-removal technology.

The company offers three plans for termite control: Basic, Advanced and Premium.

All plans include an annual termite inspection, and the company installs a “Termite Protection System” that includes bait traps around the exterior of your home. That’s where the Basic plan stops. If you choose the Advanced plan, you also get a guarantee that Terminix will pay to fix any termite damage up to $250,000. The Premium plan combines termite control with the company’s standard pest control plan. 

Bed bug removal

Terminix uses customized treatments for bed bugs, including a nontoxic option. Other treatment procedures include steaming, using high heat and insecticides as well as trapping monitors. A specialist will suggest the right treatment plan for you after an inspection.

How much does Terminix cost?

It’s difficult to know exactly what your pest control treatment will cost until you set up an inspection. However, this service is free: Terminix provides a free inspection for every customer, which not every pest control provider offers. 

Once a team member has inspected your home for any signs of an infestation and the severity of the damage, they’ll provide you with a quote for the services you need. Once your home has been inspected, you’re not under any obligation to purchase any of Terminix’s services.

Because of this, it’s hard to give our readers an exact price of Terminix’s services. It will depend on a number of factors, including the types of pests, the size of your home, the construction type of your home, the type of treatments required and where you live in the country.  

However, it’s reasonable to budget around $500 per year for a quarterly plan. Terminix states that the average termite treatment ranges from $400 to $1,500 annually with an average of $1,001.

Where does Terminix operate?

Terminix has more than 300 branches and currently operates in 45 U.S. states. Service is not available in Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Vermont or Alaska.

Working with Terminix

Depending on where you live, you may be able to schedule an inspection with Terminix completely online. However, in many areas, you’ll have to call your local branch to set up an appointment. 

During the inspection, Terminix technicians will check for any droppings, live pests, buckling or bubbling paint, damaged wood and evidence of swarms. Inspections typically include your home’s foundation walls, block walls, cracks in the foundation and expansion points. If the specialist finds any signs of an infestation, they’ll recommend a plan to protect your property.

Terminix Reviews

Below are three Terminix reviews and complaints from previous customers to help familiarize you with how the company operates.  

“Terminix has been doing my pest service for the last year. I am notified of the appointment, and there is always a follow up notification. He arrives on time and is very thorough. He is very efficient at his job. He also notifies me when he is done”. — Barbara H, BBB.org.

“I have had the most amazing experience with the staff from Terminix – **********, ******** area. ****** is amazing and extremely knowledgeable. I have/ had a German ***** problem. He knew how they probably got into my home, knew where the nests were and knew where they moved after he attacked their homes. I can gratefully say that there is an amazing difference so far, and I feel it’s only going to get better. Thank you ****** and Terminix for your help!” — Laura J, BBB.org.

“We called them for a quote, and they couldn’t give us an estimated price, so we agreed on a free inspection visit in a two-hour window. No one showed up or called. We called the customer support; they called the inspector with no answer — probably cause he was driving. An hour past the window, no one has called or showed up. It’s understandable to run late if a previous inspection took longer than expected, but it is completely unprofessional to not call the customer to inform if the inspector is running late or check if we want to reschedule instead”. — Niki S, BBB.org.

Our conclusion

Terminix specializes in termites, thanks to the company’s unique termite control patent. But the company is also a solid and reputable pest control provider for a host of other common bugs and rodents. The company’s long track record in the industry is a comfort, and so is its promise to return for free if pests come back within 30 days of a one-time treatment. However, we wish Terminix made it easier for potential customers to get a read on how much its services were likely to cost.