When you’ve got pests, you need a pest control company you can trust.
Spring is in full swing, which means that a lot of pests are more active than usual. Not only do you have to deal with the typical squirrels, mice, and rats that are always around, but spring and summer bring many seasonal pests, as well, including bees and wasps or snakes.
When you call a local pest control company, you want to know that you can trust them to get the job done. Today, I hope to help you learn what to ask in order to find the right one
What to Ask When Looking for a Pest Control Company
#1. Are they licensed?
Any pest control company you hire needs to be properly licensed in your state, and that licensing needs to be up to date. Proper licensing ensures that the pest control company in question understands all of the applicable laws and regulations in the pest control industry. It also ensures that the technicians who will be working in your home or commercial space have been properly trained on methods and materials, as well as on the necessary safety measures they need to have in place.
You don’t have to take a company’s word about licensing. To find out for yourself if a pest control company is properly licensed, you can contact your state pesticide regulatory agency, or you can always ask to see a copy of their licenses and certifications.
#2. What is their online reputation like?
A part of your search for any local business should include checking out the business’s online reputation, and the best way to do this is by reading their reviews. Reading previous customer reviews can help you learn about what kind of experience other customers have had with the business, which can give you more peace of mind about working with a business for the first time.
When reading reviews, look at the most current reviews, and try to read both positive and negative reviews. Also, look at how the business responds to negative feedback. Do they correct their mistakes and work to turn negative experiences around, or do they get defensive about it?
Make sure that you also read reviews from multiple review sources. A pest control company’s reputation on Yelp may be wildly different than its reputation on Google or Angie’s list. To get a quick look at a local pest control company’s overall online reputation and read their reviews from across the web, start your search with Top Rated Local®.
#3. Are they experienced?
As a general rule, the more experience a pest control company has, the more knowledgeable they’ll be about the job. While this isn’t always the case and experience doesn’t always translate into better service, it’s always a good idea to find out how long a pest control company has been operating and what kind of experience they have with your own pest control issue.
For example, if you’ve found seven garter snakes in your yard, you probably won’t get the kind of results you want if you hire a pest control company that has spent the last 20 years dealing with rodents. There are many different pest control companies out there, and they have different amounts of experience with different issues. Find out what kind of experience they have before you think about working with them.
#4. What are their rates like?
Obviously, you need to make sure that you hire a pest control company whose service rates are within your budget. And, it’s always a good idea to call multiple pest control companies to compare their rates.
Be careful if a company is offering you significantly lower rates than their competitors. If their rates are low, there’s probably a good reason for it. It may be that they use cheaper pest control chemicals or cut corners where safety is concerned.
#5. What methods do they use?
Always ask the pest control company in question what kind of methods they will use when providing pest control services. And, if you have questions or concerns about the methods they use, they should be able to address them or offer alternative pest control methods that you’re more comfortable with.
#6. Do they offer a guarantee?
The last thing that you want is to be lulled into a false sense of security thinking your pest control issue has been taken care of, only to find a resurgence of the infestation. That’s why you should always find out what kind of a guarantee the pest control company in question is offering.
If a company says that it offers a guarantee, make sure that you get it in writing, ahead of time. A spoken guarantee doesn’t mean much, and it’s always preferable to get guarantees in writing as often as you can.
#7. How will they keep you safe?
Safety is always something you should consider when hiring a pest control company, especially if you have pets or kids who might be at risk if dangerous methods or chemicals are used to eliminate pests. But, during the coronavirus pandemic, there are additional safety questions you should ask.
Find out whether or not their technicians get time off when they’re sick, and what the company is doing to keep their customers and employees safe while on the job. You should also make sure any pest control company you hire provides the adequate safety equipment to their technicians, like masks and gloves.
#8. What will they do to prevent pests from coming back?
If one pest has been able to find its way into your home, chances are, more will be able to follow in their footsteps in the future. That’s why it’s not enough to hire someone who will get rid of the pests that you have. They should also be able to help you prevent infestations in the future.
There are a lot of great pest control companies out there ready to meet your needs, but they’re not all made equal. Take the first step toward finding the right pest control company near you with Top Rated Local today
