“This time of year is when most termite colonies swarm,” said Ed Hogan, owner of Budget Services. “When a colony is mature, it sends out male and female reproductive termites with wings. These males and females pair up, fall to the ground and lose their wings. “This new pair then searches for a new area to start their colony.” Continue reading →

No matter how your home is constructed, where it is located, or how old it is, it could be invaded by ants, cockroaches and other general pests. Expansion joints, foundation cracks, and tiny gaps around plumbing are all opportunities for pests to enter your home. They can even be brought in on shopping bags and potted plants.

It’s a frustrating problem for millions of homeowners. In fact, ants are the number one nuisance pest in the U.S. Nuisance ants are the ones that seem to multiply faster by the hour. They enter homes in search of food and water. Continue reading →

Elin Nordegren, the Swedish ex-wife of golf pro Tiger Woods, recently demolished her $12 million mansion in part due to an infestation of termites and carpenter ants throughout the foundation.

The 1920’s built, 17,000-ft., six-bedroom home in a gated community in North Palm Beach, Fla., was demolition because it would be more cost effective to demolish the home and rebuild it than it was to renovate it. Continue reading →

The fast and powerful new FLIR E-Series is revolutionizing the way compact, professional thermal cameras capture, analyze and share images and data. Featuring touchscreen tools and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Budget Services are excited to announce that we now have the ability to see “through the walls” during our inspections.  We have procured the latest infrared technology camera, the Flir E60bx with 320×240 resolution.

We can instantly capture high-quality thermal images. This technology can show us exactly where the problems are so we can focus on issues that are not readily seen with the “naked eye”.  This camera has the ability to also detect termite activity behind a wall before any visual damage is evident. Continue reading →

Termites are probably the number one threat to a homeowner. Hurricanes come and go. The damage is quite evident. However, hundreds of thousands of dollars in structural damage may be going on behind your walls, in attics and other parts of your home without you even noticing it, until it’s too late. Continue reading →

From 1 pregnant female German cockroach at the beginning of the year to 63 million at the end of the year!

I have seen their infestation. The most vile of insects, they are next to impossible to get rid of. Where there is one there are too many more to count. Once in your home they will nibble on your food, damage wallpaper and books, and spread germs to you and your family. Continue reading →

Ever wondered why flies are attracted to beer? Entomologists at the University of California, Riverside have, and offer an explanation. They report that flies sense glycerol, a sweet-tasting compound that yeasts make during fermentation.

“Insects use their taste system to glean important information about the quality and nutritive value of food sources,” said Anupama Dahanukar, an assistant professor of entomology, whose lab conducted the research. “Sugars signal high nutritive value to flies, but little is known about which chemical cues flies use for food sources that are low in sugar content – such as beer.” Continue reading →

They arrive announced and eat you out of house and home. They are hard to get rid of. You may not even know they are there until extensive damage is done to your home, the single biggest purchase you will probably ever make.

No, we are not talking about your “in-laws,” we are talking about termites. Continue reading →