Many people’s first inclination when faced with a pest problem is to grab the pesticides and poison-laced traps they keep on hand. But hold off while you assess the situation more carefully. Don’t bother trying to solve this by yourself. Pests need to be identified before any other action can be taken to eliminate them.
A California pest control service can determine the source of your pest problem and recommend an effective course of action. There are some pertinent inquiries to put forth to the pest control firm at your disposal.
What pests do you control?
Learning about the pests you will be up against before signing the agreement is important. You should also ask for a list of the pests the company treats to ensure they cover everything.
It is important to stick with a company specializing in the specific type of pest you have in California, as not all companies will. Your local government may have approved a pest control plan targeting a particular pest. But you should still hire a company specializing in that pest.
Do you use pesticides or other methods to control pests?
If your contract includes pesticides, ask about their usage guidelines and restrictions. Some companies will only use safe pesticides, and you might violate your city’s rules if you use pesticides that aren’t approved by the town. If the company doesn’t use pesticides, that’s great.
Pest control companies that don’t use pesticides are harder to find, but it’s still possible. You’ll want to ask if they have other control methods and, if so, what they are. Both pest extermination and control use chemicals to help eliminate pests, but exterminators tend to use more robust and less environmentally friendly chemicals.
How much is a pest control contract?
In a nutshell, this is the most vital and obvious inquiry to make. When looking for a pest control service, you may be torn between signing a short-term contract and a longer-term agreement. Your agreement’s duration and price tag shouldn’t exceed a year. That’s the price of any pesticides you use, in addition to service and setup.
Who is the primary contact person?
You need to find out who the main point of contact is so you can ask for assistance. Prepare questions about the agreement, whom to contact, or how to arrange the service.
How long do their pest control contracts last?
You should avoid signing any lengthy contracts. You may be asked to pay around $500 monthly for a three-year contract. If you commit to a two-year plan, your costs will likely increase. The length of the contract and the financial consequences of its termination are crucial pieces of information to have.
Do they offer any preventative measures?
This is another crucial question to ask. You want to know if the company offers any preventative measures. That could mean they offer pesticide-free treatments or services like termite treatments that kill any current termites in the home. As we mentioned above, you don’t want to sign a long-term contract, but you also don’t want to sign a one-year contract either. It’s important to know what you’re signing up for.
How quickly can you service me?
You want to know how quickly the company can come to treat your home. You don’t want to wait weeks to get service, but you want to know how long the service would take if the company were on time. It’s easy to put off service if you know it would take hours, but knowing how long it would take if the company were on time is helpful.
Conclusion
It can be a challenge to find the right pest control company, primarily when you’re located in California. There are various pest control companies to choose from, and you’ll want to make sure you choose the best one for the job.