You’ve just relocated to a new city, only to discover that the property you bought is plagued with pests – of every sort. Although packing up not one of your options, hiring a pest control specialist certainly is. But how do you go about doing so?
Insurance
First things first, you need to ensure that the company you hire is insured. You do not want to be liable if one of the exterminators hurts himself within your property. Call references if you’re not certain or approach the neighbors to refer you to an insured company they may know.
Business Reputation
Well-reputed pest control companies usually have a website. If you have a prospect, check their site and look for testimonials (although they will probably not publish negative ones). You can also look for reviews on popular consumer third-party websites like Angie’s List and Yelp.
Products Used
When calling a pest control company, ask what products they use. In the world of pest control, one-size-fits-all doesn’t work. You cannot eradicate roaches using a spray created for vermin. Look for a company that will personalize their approach to each infestation.
Cost-Effectiveness
Pest control companies may attempt to lure in more customers by saying they have cheaper rates than their competitors. Problem is, this may not be exactly what your home needs at the moment. After all, not all pest control packages are the same. At the end of the day, you’ll want a company that is willing to work around your budget.
Regular Reporting
As indicated earlier, pest extermination projects come in varied types, but for the lengthier, more complex ones (like tent fumigation), consistent reporting is important. Ask your prospective pest control company whether they provide such reports, especially if the schedule is tight. They will likely need to send over someone to inspect your home and determine the extent of infestation. This is the only way they can tell you how long it will take to complete the extermination process. If they estimate a timeframe on the phone without first visiting your property, Be careful. That is not the habit of a reputable pest control specialist.
Professionalism
In terms of the staff, you will, of course, want a company that trains its employees to act professionally. Are they polite on the phone and in person? Does it feel like forever when they put you on hold? Do they have a reputation for keeping their promises? Are they in proper uniforms? Are their products correctly labeled? Moreover, a pest control specialist must be glad to walk you through their methods and processes before starting the work.
Managing Recurrent Infestations
Lastly, knowing infestation recurrence is always possible, you need to find a specialist that will know how exactly this should be managed, without binding you to an unnecessarily long-term contract. In short, sign on a future service from the same company only if you suspect a re-infestation.