Termites are the scourge of many a homeowner and the bread and butter for many a pest manager. For pesties to make the most of the business opportunities, termite inspections and management system installations must be carried out with the greatest of care and attention. In this article we explore a termite management insurance claim that Rapid Solutions managed for a client, to increase your awareness of what can happen if you don’t make the right moves.
It really is important to get it right. Rapid Solutions has seen more than 150 claims for termite management and today we average one new claim every month for this activity.
This article’s real-life case study demonstrates what not to do and how a claim could have been avoided. Interested in the steps you should take to avoid such a situation? We explore them in this article.
The situation
A Rapid Solutions client was employed to conduct a pest and building report for a prospective homeowner. At the time of site inspection drill holes were noted around the perimeter of the property structure, indicating previous treatment.
The client recorded this in site notes, however the report was completed at a later date and these particular notes were overlooked. Hence, they did not appear in the report that was relied upon by the prospective homeowner.
This customer went ahead and bought the home and subsequently discovered an area of termite damage that led to further investigations. Extensive termite damage was found throughout the entire structure.
Unsurprisingly, the customer then decided to sue for damages. Our (thankfully insured) client brought us into the picture and we dealt with the claimant on their behalf. In a nutshell, a six-figure sum and legal proceedings were involved.
Although the situation was resolved from a litigation perspective, Rapid Solutions has no influence over the considerable reputational damage our client has no doubt experienced. Further, they lost their 65% no claim bonus so the insurance premium is now significantly higher, and it will take several years to return to that level of bonus.
The learnings
With 25+ years in the industry, Rapid Solutions has seen termite management insurance claim after termite management insurance claim. They come in all shapes and sizes.
We can’t stress enough the advantages of completing your reporting onsite, in real time, over trying to work from memory when back in the office.
Trying to decipher notes and chase information down the track is in no way ideal.
This after-the-fact reporting approach causes gaps in reports whereas real-time reporting considerably reduces the probability of missing key findings and improves the report’s accuracy.
In choosing an onsite reporting app, it is important for a pest manager to have confidence that it meets all reporting requirements and will be backed by their insurance company. Consider using an onsite reporting system such as the Rapid Inspect app to make working life easier and reduce your risk.
Ultimately, knowing how to put your best foot forward with termite management systems comes with the right training and plenty of current experience. If you’re unsure whether you need to update your industry knowledge or refresh the knowledge of your employees, then consider doing a pest industry course as a “better safe than sorry” measure.
