Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

Termites, Dry Rot, And Real Value

• Rachel Fyffe & Jay Moceri

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Selling a home and dreading a tent over the roof? Jay Moceri of Value Termite & Construction joins us to unpack what really solves termite problems, how to spot dry rot before it spreads, and why localized treatments with real warranties can protect your house without wrecking your week or your budget. With 25 years in construction and wood remediation, Jay explains how to distinguish active infestations from old evidence, fix moisture sources first, and decide when fumigation is necessary versus when targeted treatments do the job.

We dig into practical prevention: painting and sealing to keep water out, catching roof leaks early, and choosing the right wood repairs to restore strength without overspending. Jay breaks down the hidden costs of tenting—from tile roof risk to relocation hassles—and lays out a step-by-step approach that starts with a thorough inspection and ends with long-term protection. His value-first philosophy is simple: treat every home like it’s his own and deliver pound-for-pound quality that earns referrals, not ad clicks.

You’ll also hear Jay’s unexpected journey from running a DJ company in South Florida to becoming a trusted contractor in California, and how his personal routine—roller skating at 62, yoga, stretching, living in gratitude, and daily learning—fuels the discipline he brings to every job. If you’re facing termite reports, suspicious wood, or a looming sale, this conversation gives you a clear playbook to choose the right method, control costs, and get a reliable clearance without defaulting to the most disruptive option. 

Call: 949-584-7656 

Visit: https://www.valuetermite.com/

If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review—what termite or repair question should we tackle next?

SPEAKER_01:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Five.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, if you are in need of a quality inspection, treatments to eradicate termites as well as prevent future infestations, as well as construction needs. Well, we have a one-stop resource for you. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Jay Mojani, with Value Termite and Construction. Jay, how's it going?

SPEAKER_00:

Amazing, Rachel. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_02:

I'm doing great. I'm doing great. Well, you know, we're really excited to learn about your business and all the services you offer. So tell us about your company.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, yeah, I've been in construction for 25 years and all throughout that time, uh doing remodel and other things to homes. And uh excuse me, uh, you know, in that that time, I've been able to actually repair and remediate wood as well as uh identify things that were damaged by things like termites and fungus damage, which was better known as dry rot. So I that includes even doing things as preventative maintenance, like painting houses, also identifying things like uh roof leaks and then remediating those so that there's no rot there or termite. So it's pretty widespread spread as far as what I've had my hands on over the course of 25 years of experience with construction and with termite and wood damage.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Well, you touched upon a little bit, but how did you get into this type of business?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh believe it or not, uh moved to California. I had no idea what I was gonna do. I had a previous business in South Florida, um, doing DJ work, believe it or not. It was a company that had uh 15 guys working for me there. And uh when I moved out here, I didn't feel like I needed to continue that. I wanted to get into something new, always been very handy with my hands, grew up in the greater Detroit area and learned how to use my hands for uh you know woodworking and things like that. So uh I just figured I'd get in and I started working literally as a grunt, and within a couple of years I had a company up and running. So um that's how I kind of got into this.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. Well, what do you think are some myths or misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh, definitely the idea that everybody thinks that if you sell a house, you have to fumigate it. And uh that is not true. I do clearances, I've done thousands of them, that uh the home did not need to be fumigated. A lot of people don't like the idea of fumigation. Uh, it means you got to move out of your house, you got to throw out food or bag food or do both. Uh, if you have a uh tile roof, then it can damage that and that can get very costly. Um, so I do a lot of localized treatment. I do also do fumigation. If the home really needs fumigation, I'll be happy to do it. But most people think fumigation is the only way. It is the state's primary method, but I offer the primary method, but uh probably more like 80% or more. I do localized treatment with a warranty that uh is real, which means I can come back and treat local areas. And it uh seems to be a great way to effectively reduce your cost and uh maintain a home so that you're not spending a great amount of money fumigating on a regular basis.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. Well, we know marketing is really the heart of every business. So, how are you finding your your customers?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, that's that uh I looked the other day on my contacts in my phone and I have 8,000. So it's just good old grassroots taking care of people and actually uh making sure that when I leave, I tell them there's one thing I want from my customers, and that's a referral, because I did such a great job that you would say, Yeah, hands down, this is a guy you want to use. So that's the way I've always marketed myself is just doing the best work at a real reasonable cost and making sure that they know that uh, hey, if if I did a great job for you, tell a friend, tell a family member, tell somebody. And that's always worked that my phone's never stopped ringing. So I'm very fortunate in that.

SPEAKER_02:

That's great. Now I have to have you ever thought of doing your own podcast?

SPEAKER_00:

You know, I I really haven't. Um I'm a guy who just gets out there and meets people and takes care of their needs. Uh I'm not real uh savvy and all that, and I know that's all out here, and people are telling me I should do more social media and this and that, and maybe uh maybe I should, but I know this, I just have uh really uh enjoyed taking care of my customers and making sure they get the quality and the value out of uh what I do for them.

SPEAKER_02:

That's wonderful. Well, now outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my goodness, that's a great one. Uh so I I am uh 62, and some years back ago, I got into uh roller skating, believe it or not, and it's been tremendous. It's been a great uh challenge to me. Um, I some people will say I'm the fastest guy at the rink at 62. I've I've followed a national champion around for three years and learned from them. So it's uh body and mind, you know, and that and just living in gratitude and uh, you know, doing the work at home, doing the yoga, stretching, keeping my body limber. Uh, I love to read and I love to learn and do self-development. I just think I want to be the best version of me I can be every day. And that means I gotta work on me a little bit every day in the morning before I get started with uh taking care of my customers and my employees and my vendors and all that other fun stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. Well, Jay, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about value termite and construction.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I think the name says it all. Uh, I want to make sure you get pound for pound, dollar for dollar, everything that you spend, that you get the greatest value out of it, and that you feel like you've been cared for, and that you would know that this is something that you would um be grateful that you chose to use value termite because you know you got what was best for your home. I treat every home as if it was my own home, as if I was spending my money and how I could take my 25 years of experience and apply it to make sure I get the the greatest value out of everything that I spend doing any type of work on my home.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. Well, how can our listeners learn more about value termite and construction?

SPEAKER_00:

You know, I'm I'm old-fashioned. Give me a call, 949-584-7656. Call or text that, and you're gonna get a uh a response pretty pretty quickly, usually within minutes. Uh sometimes if it's at the end of the day, it may not be till the next day. But yeah, just I'm just like I said, I'm pretty grassroots. Let's just uh make sure and communicate well with customers and take care of their needs.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. Well, Jay, I really appreciate you being on the show, and we wish you and your business really the very best moving forward.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, thanks so much, Rachel, for having me here, and uh uh I'm grateful for you as well.

unknown:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpoangecounty.com. That's gnpoangecounty.com or call 714 941 2862.