springfield resident John and pest controler James fumigate Oscar's house

[fatcat]

John and Monica came to historical Springfield three years ago and bought an old house on east Third Street. Like most of the people in Springfield, they spend a lot of their time and money repairing and renovating their old house. After having their house fumigated this year by Southern fumigation and pest control they noticed that the neighboring house is long over due for fumigation.
Oscar and Jr. live at 429 e 3rd St. since 1983. Oscar retired about eight years ago after working all his life in trucking and construction industry. With limited income from social security retirement, Oscar has a hard time keeping up with all the repair and maintenance of his house. Fumigation is simply a luxury that totally out of reach.
John and James, the owner of Southern Fumigation and Pest  control made Oscar an offer he could not refuse. Oscar got his house fumigated for FREE. Johnny pays for the cost of gas needed to fumigate the house and Southern Fumigation and Pest control does the work pro bono. Oscar's house is now fumigated for the first time in thirty years!

When I asked John why he decided to pay for the gas to fumigate his neighbor's house, he simply said, “So there will be no termites”, insisting what his contribution was minor and praised James (owner of Southern Fumigation and pest control) for doing the work. When I asked James why he decided to do the work pro bono, he said, “John is the one spending the money. I have done six houses on this block, I am doing this one for the neighborhood”.

Such down to earth modesty and refusal of credit bring fresh breeze to my ears that would have been inundated by the cynical bickering everywhere else.  John and James did the good deed because they saw a man (and his house) in need and helped. In fact, in last three years, James has been spraying for pests and termites under Oscar's house when he came to spray John’s house.  John and Monica are active participants to neighborhood nonprofit organizations. In addition to many generous donations to causes benefit the neighborhood, John and Monica join neighborhood cleanup on Saturdays, volunteer work with Preservation SOS and Sustainable Springfield and participate in many neighborhood services in bettering historic Springfield. John and Monica had many feral cats spayed and neutered and are foster parents to many Springfield rescue dogs, with “Pocket” as the newest addition.

I am so glad to have John and Monica as my neighbor and James as my contractor. I am so glad such wonderful people live and work here. This is historic Springfield. This is my hood.

John can be reached at Winfreds2002@yahoo.com
   
James, Southern Fumigation and Pest Control, can be reached at: (904) 259-9811

[danno]

Bravo

[Timkin]

Kudos to them !!!

[aubureck]

its stories like this that really help influence my decision to hire someone when Im in the market for a certain service (like pest control).  Im adding Southern Fumigation and Pest Control to my list of companies to remember as possibilities in the future.

Great story!

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

that's awesome.

[avs]

John and Monica are a great asset to the community - they do lots of volunteer work for SACARC, Preservation SOS, and Sustainable Springfield.  For Sustainable Springfield they have given time and money.  Just great people - very generous.

John also makes great hot sauce that he carries around and has been known to bring a whole bag to Shantytown to share and give out to friends - he grows the peppers himself every year - something Sustainable Springfield just loves.

I'm so glad they are my neighbors and kudos to the Pest Company too - as a Realtor, I will put them on my list of Pest Control Companies.

Amanda Searle
Sustainable Springfield, President

[fsujax]

Wow. something good about our lovely neighborhood on this board. I do have great neighbors!

[iloveionia]

+ a million
John and Monica are indeed really great people.  I am glad to know them.

[Springfielder]

How wonderful...major kudos to John and Monica....

[sheclown]

What a great gift to their neighbors.

Thank you for sharing this.  It is heart-warming and inspirational.

And we all know who to go to for pest service from now on, don't we??

[danno]

Next fumigation they are top of my list.

[SpringFizzle]

I had my house fumigated last year. The contractor is now asking me to sign up for an annual inspection and termite bond. As long as I keep up the bond, they'll tent anytime termites come back.

I realize that termites can return at anytime but I'm wondering if the annual fee is worth it. The annual fee is 1/8 of the cost of the fumigation. Meaning if I get termites again within 8 years it would be worth it.  If I don't, then it would be better to wait and pay the full price when needed.

Again, I know termites can return at anytime. I'm thinking that if they do, it would take several years for the colony to get large enough to notice and cause any damage anyway.

Any thoughs or opinions?

[Debbie Thompson]

Hoop Lady has had to tent her house about 3 or 4 times.  We keep ours up to date...always have...it's the tropics.

[02roadking]

I keep mine up to date too. I may need my 3rd tenting in 13 years. I'll find out Monday.

[wsansewjs]

The termite bond should also include spot treatments. From my limited (6 year) Florida experience, normally the way it works is that you get your house tented. Then each year as you find wings/droppings, you call the termite guy for spot treatments. After about 10 years, it gets bad enough where another tenting is needed. But YMMV. Some people have to tend more then every 10 years.

I think every house in Florida has termites. It is just a matter of how bad you have them and how many you actually see.

And how much damage it will tolerance before your entire house collapse.

-Josh