Most homeowners experience a problem with pests at some point. Finding nuisance insects, rodents, or other bugs or critters in your home can be disturbing, and it is natural to want to get rid of them as soon as possible. However, while a pest problem needs to be addressed quickly, you shouldn't call the first company you find in the phone book.
It takes time for pests to cause extensive damage. Mice can reproduce quickly, but their gestation period is 21 days. You have a few days in which to do your due diligence and find a knowledgeable pest control company with a good reputation, such as Bug Ninjas. It is crucial to find a company you can trust. Otherwise, the treatment could be ineffective at best or harmful to you or the environment at worst. What Do You Need To Do When Looking for a Pest Control Company? Due diligence is vital when you are looking for a pest control company, but what exactly does that mean? Take the time to investigate several companies fully to make sure that the one you ultimately choose can perform an effective treatment while keeping you and your family safe from harmful exposure to toxic chemicals. You should look into several companies before making your final decision, and here are some things you should keep in mind as part of the process. 1. Look for Pest Control Companies That Provide Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management is a common-sense approach to pest control based on scientific principles. It is the safest method, the method that is best for the environment, and also the method that is most effective against pests. IPM involves identifying the pest as specifically as possible and tailoring an approach toward control based on identification. It calls for learning as much as possible about each pest and using that information to formulate a plan for control that will be most effective. Following IPM, professionals identify all the options available for control and start by using the least toxic methods available first in a systematic approach. Only if the initial method is not effective does an IPM technician move on to more toxic options. IPM limits exposure to chemicals by only applying the treatments where they are needed. 2. Understand the Different Pest Control Categories Not all pest control companies are equipped to handle every type of pest. Some are more specialized while others work more generally. General household pest control can handle most of the nuisance species that you may encounter in your home, such as bed bugs, rodents, and mosquitoes. Some pests, such as termites, require more specialized methods and therefore a different category of pest control. Before you hire a pest control company, make sure that it provides the type of service you need. Bug Ninja provides termite control as well as more general services. 3. Find Out About the Legal Requirements Every pest control professional has to comply with federal and state regulations on the industry, and sometimes with local requirements as well. Every state has its own laws governing pest control companies, so the requirements vary. However, it is a standard requirement that the company has to be licensed in the state in which it operates, as Bug Ninja is licensed in Louisiana. You don't have to take a company's word that it is licensed. In the state of Louisiana, you can verify this information with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry. A representative of the company should also be able to show you documentation as well. 4. Confirm Insurance Coverage You should also find out about the insurance coverage the company has for its technicians. It should have general liability insurance to cover you in the event that the technician makes a mistake, and workers' compensation insurance to protect you from liability in the event that a technician is injured while working on your property. It is reasonable to ask for proof on paper that a pest control company has adequate insurance. 5. Find Out About the Company's Reputation Chances are good that you know other homeowners, such as friends and family members, who have had to hire pest control professionals such as Bug Ninja in the past. You can ask them to recommend a company with which they had a good experience. You can also investigate whether there have been any complaints about a company by making inquiries to the state pesticide regulatory agency or third-party organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. 6. Make Sure the Company Has a Working Phone Number Unfortunately, there are some fraudulent pest control companies operating in the United States. Once you get ready to start calling companies to arrange interviews, you may find that some do not have phone numbers listed, or the phone number list does not work. If you find any of these, stay away from them as they are probably fraudulent. When you do get ahold of a pest control company by phone, ask for its physical address. If you cannot verify its location, that is a red flag, and you should not communicate with the company any further. 7. Interview up to Five Pest Control Companies When you have narrowed down the list of candidates to around three to five companies, you should conduct interviews with them face to face. During the interview, there are important questions that you should ask:
During the interview, ask for references, which you should follow up on as soon as possible. You should be able to receive a free estimate of the cost to treat your home from each pest control company during the interview. 8. Inspect Company Vehicles When you are interviewing pest control companies, you should take a look at their vehicles. In Louisiana, it is acceptable to use a removable sign on the vehicle, such as a magnetic sign. However, an unmarked vehicle is a red flag for a fraudulent company. Not only should the vehicles be clearly marked with the name of the company, but the pesticide containers should be labeled clearly with their contents. The containers should be secure, the equipment should be well organized, and the vehicle itself should be well-maintained and clean. What Should You Expect a Pest Control Company To Do? What you can expect from pest control pros varies depending on whether you choose one that performs Integrated Pest Management. Assuming that you hire an IPM company, such as Bug Ninja, you can expect these steps to deal with your problem. 1. Identify the Specific Pest IPM is based on learning as much as possible about each specific type of pests, including its life cycle, needs, and habits. A pest control company that practices IPM should be able to not only identify the pest but explain the risks that it poses to you and your property and present options for resolving the issue. 2. Perform an Inspection Effective pest control involves not only identifying the type of pests you have in your home but also where they are hiding and how many of them there are. To do this, a technician must perform a thorough inspection of your home that involves looking around, behind, under, and on top of areas that are likely to be infested. They are looking not only for current nests but also entry points. IPM involves preventing further inspections by identifying and sealing these entry points. 3. Explain Safety Measures The chemicals used in pest control can be dangerous. The company should be able to explain the safety measures it has in place to prevent unnecessary exposure and reduce risks to the environment. You should ask questions about how the pesticides are applied and whether you have to clean up the residue, which is rare with an IPM approach. By law, the company should be able to provide you with material safety data sheets and product labels for the pesticides used upon your request. If you do request them, you should review them. 4. Provide a Written Quote A pest control company should quote you a price for services in writing. The written quote should be itemized with prices for all the services performed as part of the treatment. 5. Explain the Terms of the Contract You will be asked to sign a contract before the treatment can take place. You have a responsibility to read the entire contract before signing it and to make sure you understand it. If there are any terms that are unclear, you should ask about them, and the company should be able to explain them to you in a way that you can comprehend. 6. Comply With the Law You can expect a pest control company to comply with applicable laws even if it means not doing exactly what you want. For example, a technician cannot just "spray everything" merely because that's what you ask of them. That would be a violation of the constraints imposed on pest control companies by law. 7. Show You the Damage or Signs of Infestation A pest control company should be able to show you the signs of infestation and the damage that has been done to your property. If you do not understand what you are seeing, you should be able to receive an explanation upon request. 8. Have Qualified Personnel Perform the Inspection and Application The people who perform the inspection of your property and the application of the treatment should be qualified to do their jobs. Just bear in mind that the same person doesn't always do both. The one doing the inspection may be a salesperson with the company, while a technician may perform the actual application. 9. Communicate Effectively A pest control company should be able to explain to you things like contract terms, pricing, and instructions that you have to follow prior to the treatment. For example, you may be asked to leave the premises during the application or not to allow pets in the area. You may have to move furniture out of the way so that the technician has access or dispose of food to prevent contamination. The company should be able to communicate these requirements to you clearly well before the treatment takes place. However, effective communication also involves listening to your concerns and taking them into consideration. Remember that taking your concerns into consideration is not the same as doing whatever you want without regard for applicable laws. Pay attention to your feelings when you are communicating with representatives of the company. If you feel that you are being rushed or pressured, or that you are not being listened to or shown the proper respect, this is a red flag that the company may not be trustworthy. In that case, you should cut off contact with the company immediately. 10. Make Suggestions To Prevent Future Infestations In addition to identifying and sealing entry points, a pest control company should be able to suggest home maintenance steps you can take to prevent future infestations. For example, clutter inside and out provides cover where nuisance species can hide. Allowing standing water on your property or irrigation that moistens the walls can create conditions conducive to pest breeding and infestation. Allowing the branches of trees and shrubs to touch walls and windows provides a bridge of sorts for pests to access the building. The professionals may also suggest ongoing inspections and treatments to prevent future infestations. This is part of Integrated Pest Management. Bug Ninja is a pest control company providing services in Baton Rouge that takes an Integrated Pest Management approach. Contact us today for more information.
37 Comments
9/8/2022 06:54:42 pm
It seems like a great idea to ask possible pest control services about how long they've been in business as you suggest. My grandparents have recently seen more spiders in their house than normal and may have an infestation. I'll make sure they find a sufficiently experienced pest control company to exterminate the spiders.
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9/16/2022 08:20:34 am
I've been finding rat droppings in my home, and I'm not sure what to do. It makes sense that I would want to find a pest control company who has a lot of experience with pest management. That way, I can ensure that the rats get removed correctly.
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11/4/2022 04:39:55 pm
It really helped when you elaborated on checking a pest control company's insurance policies before you hire one. I have a raccoon family living rent-free in my basement, so I need to find someone to help me get them out of my home for good, and your hiring yips will help me. I appreciate your advice on how we'd know if a pest control company will cover any medical bill if there was an accident.
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1/10/2023 01:48:57 pm
It makes sense that you should figure out what type of insurance coverage they have. My sister told me last night at dinner about how she found a wasps nest in her backyard a couple of days ago, so she wants to find a professional that can come and remove it for her as soon as possible. I'll pass this information along to her so she can know how to find a good pest control company!
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1/13/2023 09:16:03 am
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It really helped when you said that the pest control company has to give us a quotation in writing regarding their services. I will keep that in mind to ensure that we are paying for the right amount when we find those that offer non-toxic termite treatments. We need help with the shed on our property because we already noticed signs earlier this afternoon.
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1/26/2023 04:28:40 am
Excellent post on how to select a reliable pest control provider for our demands. It's excellent that you advised ensuring that any prospective pest control service provider carries insurance coverage so that the business could cover losses in the event of any mishaps or injuries. This does appear to be a great advice. I'll give my brother, who lives in a rural area with mice problems, this information so he can quickly get in touch with a reliable pest control service. Thanks.
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3/1/2023 11:10:52 pm
I appreciate when you said that a pest control company should show us the signs of infestation and damage on our property before they work for us. I will share this information with my sister so that she can get her apartment checked by a company she can actually trust. She mentioned that she probably has rats in her kitchen after noticing their droppings earlier this week.
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3/3/2023 07:23:04 pm
I like the tip you gave that implementing a plan of extermination could help with the pest control process. A few nights ago, my wife noticed there were too many crickets in our backyard. She asked if I had any idea what could be the best option to prevent our plants from being affected. I appreciate you helping me understand the importance of hiring pest control. I'll be sure to call them tomorrow. Thanks for this helpful article.
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3/16/2023 01:00:48 am
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3/21/2023 08:22:38 pm
I appreciate you mentioning that each pest control specialist must adhere to industry-specific federal, state, and occasionally municipal restrictions. My sister claims that there are nests and ants everywhere in her home. In order to assist her, I will look for pest treatment companies that adhere to all applicable laws.
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It helped when you mentioned that the contract terms must be explained by the pest control company. My friend wants to keep the wildlife away from their property. I think it's time to hire a wildlife control service that is licensed and insured.
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6/3/2023 07:32:18 am
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