Got mice in the garage? Cockroaches in the kitchen?
You need a pest control company to rid your home of these vermin.
The real estate in some cities is more prone than others to pest infestations. Particularly in these places, you’ll find more pest control businesses than you have time to contact.
But don’t go for a ‘shotgun’ approach when choosing an exterminator. Use our top tips to narrow down your choices, and pick a genuine expert.
Choose an Experienced Pest Control Company
Just like you wouldn’t hire a builder who’d never laid a brick before to build your house, you shouldn’t choose a pest control firm without a wealth of experience behind it.
Whether it’s for a new home or your current one, you need to know it’s left without pets at the end of the job.
Ask potential companies how long they’ve been in business, and ask how they’d go about dealing with your infestation.
If they can’t give a reasonably detailed answer, their knowledge might not be good enough.
Check Their Reputation
No company in the world has ever claimed to be the worst at something. And it’s easy to make claims on your website about being the best.
The only real way to check out whether a pest control company has a good reputation is to find out yourself. If you know someone else who has had a pest problem, talk to them and get their opinion on the company they used.
Or you can search online to check reviews. If you’re in Florida, you might search ‘Pest Control Tampa‘ to bring up a list of local pest control businesses. Check out the reviews they have on Google, and other rating services too.
Check Their Licenses and Insurance
Any legitimate pest control business will hold all the necessary licenses to carry out this work.
Ask to see their license before work begins. They absolutely won’t have a problem with this – unless they’re dodgy. No license, no work.
Checking their insurance is also really important. You don’t want to be footing the bill for home repairs if a fly-by-night pest control job goes wrong.
Things to Look Out For
As well as looking for experience and reputation, you should also keep your eyes peeled for warning signs that you’re dealing with a cowboy.
Classic tricks include a person who claims to have ‘leftover’ chemicals or traps from a previous job that they need to shift fast at a discount rate.
They might try to pressure you into agreeing to work, or claim to have credentials which they (funnily enough) don’t seem able to produce. Be cautious.
And you should always be suspicious of anyone who turns up on your doorstep without warning.
Found a Pest Control Firm?
We hope this article has helped you narrow down your choices and choose a reputable pest control company.
You can search for pest control firms using our free business browsing index.
Just remember to do your due diligence on each contractor you talk to, before letting them in the door.