Buying termite bait stations and paying for an ongoing service are different decisions. Equipment ownership alone does not establish monitoring, treatment, or warranty coverage. Ask what the written program includes and what changes if service ends.
Compare ownership without assuming the contract
| Question | Customer-owned equipment | Provider-owned equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the stations? | Confirm when ownership transfers | Confirm that the provider retains ownership |
| Who maintains them? | Read the separate service obligations | Read the service obligations; ownership is not a schedule |
| What if service ends? | Ask what remains and which services stop | Ask whether and when equipment is removed |
| Can another company service them? | Ask the prospective provider to confirm acceptance | Ask about equipment and contract restrictions |
| Is a warranty included? | Only as described in the agreement | Only as described in the agreement |
Programs differ. These are questions to resolve in writing, not universal terms for ownership or rental offers.
Why monitoring matters
FDACS notes that bait systems require routine maintenance and monitoring, with frequency described in the contract. Owning hardware does not carry out that work. Ask who is responsible and how service records are provided. FDACS homeowner guide
Compare the complete proposal
Put the initial work, scheduled service, replacement conditions, and optional warranty in separate rows when reviewing offers. Ask which amounts or conditions can change at renewal. Do not assume that ownership is always cheaper or rental always includes more service.
If switching providers, first review the existing agreement and then ask the prospective company what it can inspect and service. Avoid canceling based only on a station photograph or a headline price.
Ask about the handoff before a service change
A practical comparison includes what happens at the end of each arrangement. Ask the current provider which equipment belongs to whom, which obligations end with cancellation, and what notice the agreement calls for. Ask the prospective provider whether it will use the existing equipment or propose different work.
Keep those responses separate. A new company saying it can offer service does not answer what your existing contract requires, and owning a station does not guarantee that another provider will accept it into its program. A written explanation avoids building the decision around assumptions about interchangeable hardware.
The goal is a clear sequence: what you currently have, what the proposed program would provide, and what needs to happen for the transition. Evaluate that sequence alongside the property assessment and the service terms, rather than choosing solely on whether an offer uses the word buy or rent.
Common questions
What if the real question is coverage?
Read the termite bond guide to distinguish treatment from warranty obligations. For the price of proposed work, use the termite cost checklist and calculator.
Bring any current agreement and the pest observation checklist to an inspection. The useful outcome is a clear explanation of the property findings, proposed work, and continuing responsibilities.
