A 10-Point Plan for Services (Without Being Overwhelmed)
You’ve just relocated to a new city, only to discover that the property you bought is plagued with pests – of every sort. Packing up is not possible, but hiring a pest control service sure is. But how do you go about doing so?
Insurance
First of all, you must see to it that the company you choose has insurance. You do not want any liability in case a worker injures himself within your premises. If you’re not sure, call their client references or ask neighbors for referrals to an insured service.
Business Reputation
Well-reputed pest control companies usually have a website. If you already have a few prospects, visit their sites and read their customers’ testimonials (they will likely not include any negative ones, however). You can as well go through reviews on popular independent consumer websites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, etc.
Products Used
When calling a pest control company, ask what products they use. When you talk about quality pest control, one-size-fits-all is unheard of. You cannot eradicate roaches using a spray created for vermin. Find a service that employs a custom approach to every infestation.
Reasonable Pricing
Pest control services may try to entice customers by offering cheaper rates than those of their rivals. 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. 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 potential pest control service you call whether their staff updates clients updated on the status of extermination, especially if time is limited. In most cases, they will send someone to personally see the extent of the infestation. This is the only way for them to accurately estimate the duration of the project. 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
Speaking of employees, find a company that hires and trains their staff in the ways of professionalism. Are they courteous during phone and personal conversations? Do they keep you on hold for too long? Are they known for delivering on their promises? Are they in proper uniforms? Do they properly label all of their products? Furthermore, a pest control specialist should eagerly tell you about methods and processes before buckling down to work.
Recurrent Infestation Management
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.