How to pick a good exterminator

Is it better to use a National or a Local pest control company?

 In order to answer that question, we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of both Local and National exterminators.

Local: Local exterminators are usually less expensive and less likely to require a long contract. Some will argue hiring a local pest control company keeps more money in the local economy, and when you call a local business there’s a good chance you’ll talk to the manager or owner. In addition, they’re more likely to have the best knowledge of pests in the area.

For example, take Termite tenting. Termite tenting (fumigation) is used most frequently to control drywood termites. For a local company in Florida, termite fumigation may make up the majority of their work and as a result, they are very experienced in it. So they don’t really deal with something like drain flies or mosquitos. A national company, on the other hand, deals with a bit of everything. Rodents, ants, and mosquitos they deal with regularly, but as a company they have little to no experience with the termite tenting in Florida. As a result, they often choose to hire out the termite tenting to a local company with more experience. 

The drawbacks of local pest control companies are that they typically don’t have access to as large of resources as national. Their insurance may not cover absolutely everything, and their collective experience of pests will be narrower than that of a national company. The example of termite tenting is a good way to illustrate the different levels of experience national and local exterminators. 

National: Due to their sheer size, national pest control companies have access to more resources than Local, and have access to the latest technology in the pest control field. They will be licensed and well insured. A major plus for a national company is that they have a wider collective experience with hundreds of technicians and managers who have decades of experience.

The drawbacks are that National exterminators are usually more expensive and more likely to require a contract as opposed to a no contract service. Many National companies use a call center to receive phone calls, so chances are slimmer that you will talk to the people who will actually be doing the work. And while they may have a good across the board knowledge of pests, the standard training might not cover all the pests local to your area. Or they may decide that they are not going to cover a certain pest at all because of the level of difficulty and it being a localized problem. 

How do you know if a Pest Control company is licensed?

Licensed: In the state of Kansas, all pest control companies are required to have a license. You can check to see if an exterminator is licensed at Kansas Pesticide Business. Most states have some sort of regulation by the Department of Agriculture or Public Health.

Insured: Insurance shows that a pest control company is taking its responsibility seriously. In most states there is an insurance requirement that must be met as part of the state pest license. The level of coverage required does vary.  And some accept a bond, which isn't the same as a liability policy and typically has a low cap on the maximum dollar amount it can cover.

Insurance also protects you if an accident occurs on your property. Granted, no company wants that to happen, but accidents, mistakes, and equipment failures are a reality of any business.  If you want to know whether or not an exterminator is insured, you’ll probably just have to take their word for it. But if you’re very concerned, you can ask for proof of insurance.

Read the Reviews

Make sure to read the customer reviews. However, be on the lookout for any companies that have all perfect scores. It’s very unlikely that a company will have all of it’s reviews be perfect, 5 star ratings. There will always be a customer that you will be unable to please, or that thought a service purchased would be different. Also make sure to read the comments about why a review was left. Was the customer legitimately unsatisfied or were they just being overly picky? While reading reviews of restaurants I always smile when I see a review that reads: “Best meal ever, will recommend this place to all my friends. Wonderful staff” - 3.5 out of 5 stars.

 
Exterminating Specialties

The advantage of having so many different companies available is that you can choose the best one to fit your needs. Many companies specialize in different pests, using different methods, products and equipment. If you’re dealing with a rat infestation, you’re likely better off choosing an exterminator that specializes in rodent control over an exterminator that specializes in

termite treatment. You can see what services a pest control company offers by going to their website or giving them a call.

Pest Control Guarantees and Warranties

Some pest companies will offer warranties for select services. In addition, some exterminators might guarantee jobs on a case by case basis. Each company will be different, but with more costly services, especially bed bugs and termites, make sure you get a written statement of warranty. The details should include (1) What the warranty covers, (2) How long it covers it for, (3) Any costs or fees you have to pay, and (4) what actions the pest control company are required to take. Make sure you understand the conditions on your part as well, because some warranties might become void if you don’t uphold the specified conditions.

Shop Around

Be a good comparison shopper. Shop around, learn about the different services and price rates each prospective company offers. However, look out for any abnormal price differences. If most Pest control companies offer a certain service for similar pricing, but one company is charging significantly less, be wary. It’s possible that said company legitimately has that low cost rate, such as an introductory rate, seasonal pricing, etc.. But it could also mean an exterminator is skipping some step, or finding creative ways of cutting corners in order to cut costs.

As a final step, pick a few companies, talk to them. Maybe have them stop by for an estimate (hint: termite inspection). This way you can decide if you like dealing with them, and if you are comfortable with their employees.