A startling survey shows that nearly 84% of homes have some form of pests living inside them in any given year. While a few spiders or beetles here and there aren’t a big issue, you can’t afford a full-blown infestation.
Unfortunately, if you see one pest in your home, there are likely many others hiding behind the walls, under furniture, etc. If you’re seeing signs of pests in your home, the least you can do is get an expectation from a local pest control company.
They can assess the severity of the situation and give you their suggested course of action. The only question is, how do you find the best pest control services?
We believe it’s all about asking the right questions. Keep reading for everything you need to ask pest control professionals to find the best company for your home.
What Kind of Pests Do You Specialize In?
First, you need to make sure the local pest control company you’re talking to is equipped and qualified to handle the type of pest that’s invading your home. For example, while most pest control services can handle bugs of various kinds, they’re not all equipped to handle bats, snakes, rodents, and other animals.
Do You Have a Business License and Insurance?
Before hiring a pest control company, verify their licensing and insurance. They should have a professional business license as well as a pest control license that certifies them to handle the chemicals used in the industry.
Additionally, only hire pest control pros who have professional liability insurance. This policy will protect your home and assets in the event of an accident.
For example, if a pest control technician accidentally damages your carpet, breaks a window, or backs into your vehicle, their liability insurance will cover the damages. If the company doesn’t have liability insurance, you might have a hard time getting them to pay for the damages they caused.
How Long Have You Been in Business?
Next, find out how long the local pest control company has been in business. How much experience do they have in the industry?
The best pest control company will have years of experience handling the various bugs, insects, and animals that commonly invade homes in your area. As noted before, if you have a unique pest problem, make sure they have experience handling that specific type of pest.
Do You Have Any Referrals or Customer Reviews?
One of the best ways to find quality pest control services is through customer reviews and referrals. Find out what other homeowners think about the local pest control professionals.
You can find customer reviews online, typically through the company’s website. However, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact the pest control pros directly and ask to see a list of referrals.
What Methods of Pest Control Do You Offer?
If you’re seeing the signs it’s time to call a professional pest control company, hiring the best company for your home and lifestyle is important. For example, if you have pets and small children, you need to make sure their pest control methods won’t put them in danger or at risk.
Ask what types of pest control methods they use for the type of pests that are invading your home. Do they have traps, poisons, and chemicals that are safe to be in the home with pets and children?
How Are Your Pest Control Technicians Screened and Certified?
Because the pest control professionals you hire will be in your home and possibly around your family, you need to find out more about the company’s screening process. How do they screen their employees before hiring them? Do they complete adequate background checks?
Additionally, what types of training and certification processes must their employees go through to handle chemicals, poisons, and traps?
Do You Have a Pest-Free Guarantee?
A service provider is only as good as their customer satisfaction guarantee. A pest control company needs to stand behind its services. As such, you need to find a local pest control company that offers some form of a pest-free guarantee.
Do they promise to take care of your pest problem? What happens if your pest problem continues after the completion of their treatment plan?
Will they come back and finish what they started? Will they offer you a discount on their services?
Additionally, find out if the pest control pros do anything to prevent future pest infestations. Do they work with homeowners to educate them on how to keep a pest-free home?
Will You Give Me a Free Quote?
When shopping for the best pest control professionals, you need to consider your costs. However, this doesn’t mean settling for the absolute cheapest company. The cheapest pest control company might:
- Have terrible customer reviews
- Use harmful, outdated pest control methods
- Lack licensing and insurance
- Etc.
Therefore, call the local pest control companies to get a free quote for their services. However, you also need to consider the other factors in this article. Find a company that offers both affordability and outstanding customer service.
How Soon Can You Come Out to My House?
Finally, ask potential pest control services about their availability. How soon will they be able to come to your house, complete an inspection, provide a quote, and take action?
Living with pests can present health concerns, property concerns, and other issues. The sooner you can implement a pest control strategy, the better.
As such, ask the local pest control companies for a rough timeline to determine when they can come out to your house to remediate the issue. How long do they expect the entire process to take? Will you need to make plans for alternative lodging until the treatment is over?
Need the Help of Local Pest Control Professionals?
If your home is being invaded by bugs, mice, or other pests, you need to contact your local pest control professionals as soon as possible. The longer you wait to take action, the worst the problem is going to be.
Follow the tips listed above to ask the right questions and find the best company for the job. And if you’re looking for more consumer advice or homeownership tips, check out some of our other articles before you go. Our blog was created to help people like you make good decisions.
