If you live in Miami long enough, you’ll eventually see homes wrapped in colorful tarps like giant birthday presents. But unlike presents, termite tenting represents a significant investment in protecting what’s likely your most valuable asset. With drywood termites causing billions in damage across the United States annually, choosing the right fumigation company isn’t just about price. It’s about safety, effectiveness, and peace of mind.

After talking with dozens of Miami homeowners who’ve been through the fumigation process, a clear pattern emerges. The ones who had positive experiences did their homework upfront. The ones who regretted their choice? They usually went with the cheapest quote without asking the right questions.

Here’s what actually matters when you’re evaluating fumigation companies in South Florida.

The Certification Question Nobody Asks

Most homeowners assume any company offering termite tenting is qualified to do it. That’s not necessarily true.

Florida law requires fumigation operators to complete extensive training through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This isn’t a weekend course. It involves understanding gas dynamics, safety protocols, structural sealing, and emergency procedures. Certified operators must pass rigorous exams and maintain ongoing education.

Here’s what catches people off guard: many companies advertising fumigation services don’t actually perform the work themselves. They act as middlemen, taking your call and your payment, then hiring a wholesale fumigation company to do the actual tenting. The person you spoke with on the phone? They might never set foot on your property.

This matters because the subcontractor, not the company you hired, typically holds the warranty. If problems arise six months later, you’re dealing with a company you never even knew was involved. One Miami homeowner shared that when drywood termites returned within her warranty period, the company she hired claimed the subcontractor was responsible, while the subcontractor claimed they only worked for the original company. She spent three months getting bounced between them before anyone would honor the warranty.

Direct Service vs. Subcontracting

The subcontracting model is widespread in South Florida’s pest control industry, and it significantly affects both price and quality.

Companies that subcontract typically mark up the wholesale price by 15% to 40%. You’re essentially paying a sales commission to a company that’s not doing the work. Meanwhile, the actual fumigators are getting paid less, which can incentivize cutting corners on time-consuming safety procedures.

Companies that perform their own fumigation work, like Bye Bye Termites, maintain direct quality control over every aspect of the job. When the owners are on-site managing the tenting, you get accountability that’s impossible with subcontracted work. If something goes wrong, there’s no finger-pointing between companies because there’s only one company involved.

This model also affects response time and communication. When you call with a question during fumigation, you’re talking to the people actually doing the work, not a customer service representative reading from a script.

The Warranty Reality Check

Every fumigation company offers a warranty, but not all warranties are created equal.

A meaningful warranty should be:

Long enough to matter. Drywood termites can take months to show visible signs if they survived treatment or reinfested. A 90-day warranty is essentially worthless. Look for companies offering at least a 2-year warranty on drywood termite fumigation.

From the company doing the work. If the company you hired subcontracts the fumigation, the warranty often comes from the subcontractor. This creates the accountability problem mentioned earlier.

Clearly written and documented. Vague promises about “taking care of any problems” aren’t warranties. You should receive written documentation explaining exactly what’s covered, for how long, and under what conditions.

Renewable. Some companies allow you to renew warranties for ongoing protection. This is valuable in South Florida where termite pressure is constant.

One thing that surprised several homeowners was discovering that fumigation doesn’t prevent future infestations. The gas kills existing termites but leaves no residual protection. This is why annual inspections and renewable warranties matter for long-term protection.

Experience and Track Record

Miami’s warm, humid climate creates perfect conditions for termite activity year-round. Companies with decades of local experience understand South Florida’s specific challenges in ways that newer or out-of-state companies don’t.

For instance, termite tenting in Miami requires understanding how tropical storms and heavy rains affect scheduling, how different architectural styles common in South Florida impact tenting complexity, and which neighborhoods have historically higher drywood termite activity.

Bye Bye Termites has 30 years of experience specifically in Miami-Dade and Broward County. That’s not just tenure; it’s accumulated knowledge about local building codes, neighborhood-specific termite patterns, and relationships with local gas companies for coordinating utility shutoffs.

Compare that to national chains that rotate technicians between states or newer companies learning through trial and error. The fumigation process has no room for on-the-job training. One improperly sealed tent or miscalculated gas dosage can result in ineffective treatment or, worse, safety hazards.

The Pricing Red Flag

When you get quotes that vary wildly, something’s going on beneath the surface.

Legitimate fumigation companies calculate pricing based on square footage, structural complexity, and infestation severity. While some variation is normal, a quote that’s 40% or 50% lower than others should raise questions, not excitement.

Suspiciously low quotes usually indicate one of three things:

The company is subcontracting to the lowest bidder and hoping volume makes up for thin margins. The quote doesn’t include preparation work, and you’ll face surprise charges later. The company is cutting corners on fumigant amount, exposure time, or safety procedures.

One Coral Gables homeowner accepted a quote $1,200 lower than others. The fumigation happened, but termites reappeared four months later. When he called the company, they claimed he must have a new infestation and wanted to charge for another fumigation. A second opinion from another company revealed the original fumigation used insufficient gas concentration for his home’s size.

On the flip side, the highest quote isn’t automatically the best. You’re looking for detailed, itemized quotes that explain exactly what’s included and why the price is what it is.

Bilingual Service in Miami

Miami’s bilingual nature means communication during fumigation should be available in both English and Spanish. This isn’t just about convenience. It’s about understanding critical safety information and preparation requirements.

Several homeowners mentioned choosing companies specifically because they offered fluent Spanish-speaking operators who could explain the fumigation process to elderly parents or family members who primarily speak Spanish. Bye Bye Termites provides full bilingual service with dedicated phone lines for both English and Spanish speakers.

Fumigation involves complex preparation requirements. Food must be removed or bagged, plants relocated, gas shut off, and dozens of other specific tasks completed. Miscommunication about any of these steps can delay the fumigation or compromise safety. Having operators who can explain requirements clearly in your preferred language eliminates this risk.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Based on experiences from Miami homeowners who researched thoroughly, here are the questions that revealed the most about fumigation companies:

Do you perform the fumigation yourselves, or do you subcontract it? This is the first and most important question. If they subcontract, ask who will actually be doing the work and who holds the warranty.

How long have you been doing fumigation work specifically in Miami? General pest control experience doesn’t translate to fumigation expertise. You want fumigation-specific experience in South Florida.

Can I see your FDACS fumigation certification? Every legitimate operator should be able to show you their certification without hesitation.

What’s included in your quoted price? Make sure preparation assistance, tent installation, gas, monitoring, aeration, and clearance testing are all included, not add-on charges.

What equipment do you use for clearance testing? They should mention specific devices like Interscan, Miran SapphIRe, or Spectros ExplorIR analyzers. If they seem vague about testing procedures, that’s concerning.

Who will I speak with if I have questions during the fumigation? You want access to the actual fumigators, not just customer service representatives.

Local Service Areas and Accessibility

Miami is sprawling, and fumigation companies don’t all service the same areas. Some focus on urban Miami and Miami Beach, while others cover suburban areas like Kendall, Homestead, and Cutler Bay.

Companies with established operations across multiple South Florida locations typically offer more flexible scheduling and faster response times. They also understand the unique characteristics of different neighborhoods. A historic home in Coral Gables requires different considerations than a newer development in Westchester.

Local companies also tend to have relationships with area gas companies, which streamlines the gas shut-off and reconnection process. This might seem minor until you’re trying to coordinate schedules and every hour matters.

Safety Procedures and Clearance Testing

The scariest fumigation stories involve companies that rushed clearance testing or used improperly calibrated equipment.

Vikane gas must measure at 1 part per million or less before anyone can safely reenter. This requires sensitive, properly calibrated detection equipment and systematic testing of every room. Some companies test only a few rooms or use outdated equipment that can’t accurately measure low concentrations.

Proper clearance testing takes time. For an average home, expect one to two hours of systematic testing with windows and doors closed. If a company claims they can clear a large home in 20 minutes, they’re not testing properly.

One Miami Beach homeowner described returning to her home after fumigation and immediately experiencing headaches and irritation. The fumigation company insisted they’d tested properly, but when she hired an independent company to retest, they found concentrations above safe levels in several rooms. The original company had only tested the main living area.

The Owner-Operated Advantage

There’s a noticeable difference between owner-operated fumigation companies and larger operations where owners are disconnected from day-to-day work.

Bye Bye Termites operates with the owners on-site for fumigations. This hands-on approach means every job receives the same attention and quality control. When your home is being fumigated, the people who built their reputation over 30 years are the ones ensuring everything is done correctly.

Compare this to companies where you might never meet the owners, or where different crews handle your fumigation depending on who’s available that day. Consistency matters when you’re trusting someone with your home and family’s safety.

Making Your Decision

Choosing a fumigation company comes down to verifying credentials, understanding their business model, and assessing their track record.

Don’t rely solely on online reviews, but do check them across multiple platforms. Look for patterns. Do multiple reviewers mention the same operators by name? That suggests consistency. Do complaints get responses and resolutions? That indicates accountability.

Visit the company if possible. Legitimate operations have physical offices, equipment, and personnel you can see. Companies operating solely through call centers or websites might be brokers, not actual fumigators.

Ask for references from recent customers in your specific area. A company confident in their work should readily provide references.

The Bottom Line

South Florida’s termite pressure means fumigation is sometimes unavoidable. When that time comes, the company you choose determines whether it’s an effective, professional experience or a stressful ordeal with uncertain results.

Companies that perform their own work, maintain long-standing local operations, hold proper certifications, and offer substantial warranties backed by owners who are accountable tend to deliver the reliable service homeowners need. Those that subcontract, provide vague answers about their processes, or compete primarily on price often create more problems than they solve.

Your home deserves fumigation done right the first time, by certified professionals who will be around to stand behind their work years later.