As a pest technician, and having spent so many years doing pest control for 4 companies in 3 states I feel that it is important to share exactly what to look for when you are shopping around for a pest control company.
The purpose of this article is to help you know all the fine details on what to look for and how to go about finding a pest company that fits your needs.
So how do you pick the right pest control company? Picking the right pest company will require you and the pest company to have an understanding of what they offer and what you will expect. So, make sure to have them answer all your questions or concerns that you have while adhering to their requests so that your treatments are the best.
Things To Research When Picking A Pest Company
- Reputation – Make sure to check the history and credentials of the people you contract to treat your home.
- Experience – How long has the company been established. Methods can take years to develop and it is important to have that tenure.
- Online Reviews – Find out what the current people are saying about the company you are picking. (online reviews are one of the best ways to find out the unfiltered bias of others)
- Guarantee – Are there warranties, cancellation fees, or a guarantee?
- Value– Find out what services they provide and what pests are included with those services and the cost for those services and compare them to other companies. This is the value in what you get but also at what price point. (as a general rule of thumb you get what you pay for)
- Get Multiple Estimates – Estimates are free so shop around not just for the best deal, but for the service you feel will best work for you, your family, and your pets.
- Customer Satisfaction– Does the office people listen to your issues and take note of what your issues are? They should be able to tell you how big your infestation is or what stage your pest issue is at by the details you convey to them, however, in some few cases a home inspection may be necessary.
This is a good place to start read on to see more of the suggestions for finding the right pest control company.
What Should I Ask A Pest Company I am Researching?
Dig Up The Dirt Expectations What’s The Skinny
- Will I get the same technician with each service?
- Is the technician registered, certified or licensed?
- What does your general pest service provide? Make sure the service they are offering covers the pest issues you are having. Some companies will only cover certain pests in their routine services. (get a list of pests covered in these types of services. Some pest companies won’t perform certain services or treat certain issues.
- What is the cost of your annual service? Make sure to compare the services to the cost so you can know what you are paying for.
- What is your call back procedure? You want a company that guarantees their work. Make sure you ask them this, you want to know what the expectation is from them so that you can see that it suits you.
- Are you guys insured? You will want to know if something goes wrong that
- How many services per year will I get? Most companies have quarterly service, but there are some that come out tri-annually.
- You may want to know if they have a green option. These services in my experience are a little more money and the residual generally doesn’t last as long.
- Does your company participate in any pest associations? Pest associations require a standard of excellence and pest companies are rated by these associations. (example: NPMA National Pest Management Association)
Don’ts When Picking A Pest Company
- Don’t use a pest company that isn’t listed or has no credentials!
- Don’t let your neighbor come over and treat your house! (this is actually illegal)
- Don’t let a contractor for other services do your pest control as an added bonus. This may work out, but the liability and safety fear would have me wondering if they know what they are doing.
- Don’t feel pressured to sign an annual contract until you have made your decision. (most pest companies will have you sign an annual contract, you could do it without, but the service usually is not guaranteed and the cost will usually be greater, so keep that in mind). Make sure you read and know what it is that you are signing before you get too involved.
Myths About Picking A Pest Company
Picking A Big Name Company Guarantees The Best Service
This is not always necessarily the case. A lot of the bigger companies will try to push out huge production numbers and it puts pressure on their technicians to move fast which can cause them to miss issues your home may have.
- I am not implying that there are some technicians at big companies that do a wonderful job on their services.
- I will say that going with a smaller locally established company won’t get you lost in the system
- Most smaller companies have fewer technicians with fewer stops to get done, so they can take their time on your property and give it the attention it needs and deserves.
Picking The Most Expensive Service Is The Best Service
The most expensive service is just that “Expensive”. This could go either way so I think it is in your best interest to go through the research process to find the Value before you choose the pest company you want.
I Should Pick A Pest Company That Will Eradicate ALL My Pests
I can confidently say that this is a firm NO! A pest control company isn’t coming out to your home to make sure you have zero bugs and pests ever again.
Pest control is used to slow and deter and in some cases eradicate bugs and pests. Some bugs are good, like honey bees, and praying mantis’. These guys aren’t going to come out and make your house glow green.
Pest control is regulated by laws and government to ensure the safety of the people and pets that are around it.
Most companies will offer preventative maintenance but this won’t always guarantee that you will never see another bug in your home.
I Thought The Service Was Guaranteed Though?
Most guarantees offer some type of callback system where the company will send a technician back out to address any new issues and follow up with an inspection of those issues to ensure their treatment is properly done. This is where a technicians knowledge of pest behaviors will help to take care of the issues that may ensue.
Summary
Picking the right pest company will ultimately be your decision, and there are a lot of good companies to help you with your pest needs. Remember to research, call around, read reviews, and find the value in what you are looking for. I know you will find the right fit for your needs if you are diligent in this.
Posts Of Interest
Can I Save Money Doing Pest Control Myself?
So can you save money doing pest control yourself? In a word, yes! Doing pest control yourself, in the long run, will be much cheaper. There is an initial cost for reusable items like sprayer, gloves, and chemicals but the pesticides used go a very long way.
Pest Insider Secret: You can use a commercial chemical like the pros to treat your own home.
DIY Pest Control: Cheapest Setup, Honorable Mentions, and What to Buy
So, what is the cheapest way to do DIY Pest Control? You will want to pick up a plastic spray can online and a single general spray pesticide. Once you pick these up you will mix them at the label suggested ratio and spray a 3’ barrier up and a 3’ barrier out from your foundation.
