Pest control is an important aspect of upkeeping and maintaining a home, office, or business. Unwanted pests like rodents and roaches are a facet of life that will always be with us, but with careful prevention, pest control, and maintenance, the issue can be abated so that its negative impact on your life is minimized. Like all services, it’s important to choose wisely when picking a pest control company, as your results and satisfaction depend upon it being performed by a capable, qualified, and professional company.
Mistake #1: Not asking about follow-up treatments
One thing to always ask a pest control company is about their procedures regarding follow-up appointments or return visits if you notice pests remaining. One of the major misconceptions about pest control is that it is a “one and done” process, and once you have the professionals come in they won’t have to return.
This is not the case, as many pests are persistent, and once colonies are established, insects and rodents that escape the treatment can easily find their way back. That’s why many pest control professionals recommend scheduling quarterly treatments for the best results, and at the very least there should be a guarantee that they will return if you notice frequent pests returning.
Mistake #2: Working with unqualified or unlicensed companies
Pest control in all jurisdictions requires that the company and workers obtain certain licenses and certifications. Usually, pest control companies will be required to have professionals certified in general pest control, fumigation, termite control, and yard or outside work.
Before taking any major steps, always confirm that they possess the proper certifications and licenses to legally work. This will help protect you from liability if things go wrong and ensure the highest quality of work possible. Also, always make sure to check that the company has insurance to cover potentially costly errors or mistakes, though they may be unlikely.
Mistake #3: Not clarifying what types of pests they usually deal with
Pests and unwanted animals or insects in our houses are widely varied and can be different depending on where you are located, what season it is, and what type of building is being treated. Always try to find a local company, and ask them what kind of experience they have dealing with the specific type of pests you are encountering.
This is a good time to get a feel for their general knowledge of the area and your issues. Are they cognizant of the type of pest you describe, and can they describe a time in which they successfully treated these pests? All of these are excellent questions to ask when looking into pest control options.
Mistake #4: Not asking about the type of pest control used
Just like the pests themselves, there are many different kinds of pest control techniques used for different purposes. Two of the most common are:
- Chemical pest control: one of the most common types of pest control, chemicals used to terminate pests can come in many forms, like dusters, foamers, sprays, etc. Besides pesticides, you may encounter insect growth regulators, pheromones, or repellents.
- Bait/traps: a physical form of pest control, bait, and traps are extremely common and successful in treating many types of pests.
Of course, there are many more methods available, like fumigation or installing boron-treated insulation. Always clarify with the pest control company what they will be doing, and do some research to make sure it seems like an effective method. The EPA recommends writing down the name and EPA registration number of any chemical applied in your house, to make sure that it is safe to use and in case you need to acquire more information about it.
Mistake #5: Choosing the cheapest company you can find
While there will always be that one company that outbids the others by offering an unrealistically low quote, it always pays off in other ways. These companies will have undereducated, poorly trained, and unreliable staff, and they will necessarily cut corners in order to offer such low quotes.
When it comes to pest control, it’s not something you want to entrust to the cheapest company you can find. More likely than not, it will lead to you simply having to call the other companies and spending the money anyways when their inevitably poor work leads to reinfestation. The mistake here is simply looking at the quotes alone and choosing the lowest, rather than looking into who will actually do the best job, has the qualifications, and has the experience to get it done right.
If you’re looking into pest control, don’t worry, as it is a well-established science and there are many safe and effective ways to take care of the issue. However, don’t delay, as pest issues only get worse with time – contact a pest control company today and get the process of clearing any unwanted guests out of your house started today!
