You’ve just moved into a new home, and then you discover that the property is infested with nearly every kind of pest imaginable. Although packing up not one of your options, hiring a pest control specialist certainly is. But how do you begin?
Insurance
First off, the service you pick must be insured. You do not want any liability in case a worker injures himself within your premises. Talk to their references if you have doubts, or ask the neighbors if they can recommend an insured company.
Business Reputation
Highly reputed pest control services typically have a website. When you have a prospect, explore their site, especially customer testimonials (though they might not show any negative ones). You can also look for reviews on popular consumer third-party websites like Angie’s List and Yelp.
Products Used
When checking out a pest control service, inquire about the pesticides they’re using. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all policy in pest control. You cannot eradicate roaches using a spray created for vermin. Hire a company that has a custom approach to every specific infestation.
Reasonable Pricing
Pest control companies may attempt to lure in more customers by saying they have cheaper rates than their competitors. But the problem is, this may not always fit what your home requires at a given time. After all, not all pest control packages are the same. Find a service that is glad to work around your budget.
Consistent Reporting
As we said earlier, there are various kinds of pest control projects, but for the more complicated ones – for example, tent fumigation – regular reporting is necessary. Inquire from the company you’re considering whether their employees will provide such reports regarding the progress of extermination, especially when the timeframe is short. They will likely need to send over someone to inspect your home and determine the extent of infestation. There is no other method of knowing how long the entire process will take. If they give you a timeframe over the phone without actually visiting your home, be wary. 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. Do they treat you with respect when you’re talking on the phone or in person? Does it feel like forever when they put you on hold? Are they known for delivering on their promises? Do they come to work 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
Finally, with the possibility of recurrence always present, you’ll want a company that can handle it well but without tying you down in a long-term agreement. In short, sign on a future service from the same company only if you suspect a re-infestation.