The Pest control market is heavily saturated with companies of all shapes and sizes. As such, it can be difficult for homeowners to determine which pest control company is the best choice for their home. Having worked in the pest control industry for several decades now, I can tell a good company from a not so good one pretty easily, and while every case is different, there are a few factors that are telling signs of the quality of a pest control company and its staff.
So as a homeowner you may be wondering, what signs should you be looking for when evaluating a potential pest control service for your home?
- A Good Pest Control Company Has Well Trained, Professional Technicians:
Technicians are the heart of a pest control company. They are the pest professionals who inspect and treat your home. Due to their important role, it is critical that they are well trained and equipped to deal with pests and treatment products properly.
A company’s technicians should be professional, punctual, and above all committed to resolving your pest problems. They should also be willing and able to answer questions you might have about pests, treatment products, and other concerns.
If the technician has a unruly appearance, dirty uniform, or rude behavior, odds are the company they work for lacks a strict training regime, and thus probably has a poor quality of service. In many cases, badly applied treatment products will do little to nothing, and therefore you want the technicians that perform service on your property to know what they are doing.
- A Good Pest Control Company Offers Guarantees:
Pest control can be a complicated job, and it often requires a multistep approach to properly deal with a pest infestation in your home. Due to this, you want to ensure that a company that you hire is committed to long run pest prevention in your home.
Because many types of pests such as termites or roaches have rapid reproductive rates, treatments may sometimes only temporarily rid your home of infestation. A good pest control company understands this, and should offer you some form of satisfaction guarantee. (See our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee as an example!) This will allow you to rest easy knowing that, if the pests return, so will your pest control professionals.
- A Good Pest Control Company Is Properly Certified and Documented:
On the more legal side of things, every state in the US requires at least some form of certification for a company to work in pest control. This certification proves that the company and its technicians have received and updated their training.
Unfortunately, while the vast majority of companies comply with these standards, there are some who operate illegally under the radar. Companies and technicians without certification have no expert oversight and thus they often do not follow correct safety procedures and treatment protocol. You should avoid working with any company that is hesitant to show you their licensing and certification.
Beyond this, it is fairly standard practice for a technician to provide you with some form of documentation after performing treatment on your home. This documentation varies from company to company, but it typically includes a description of services rendered and prices. This documentation can be very important in future because it serves as proof that you had the house treated recently, which is often requested in real estate transactions or rental contracts.
- A Good Pest Control Company Has A Respectable Reputation:
Pest control is a service business. Like other businesses in the service industry, a pest control company relies on the good opinions of its customers, especially due to the fact that many customers stay with the same pest control provider for years.
If you are considering a particular company, you should check online at their website to see if they have good reviews from previous customers. It can also be productive to ask your friends and neighbors what pest control company they use, as this can help you find reliable services and get price comparisons for service.
- A Good Pest Control Company Charges A Fair Price. (The Lowest Price Is Rarely The Best Price):
Pest control services are typically priced based on the distance traveled to your home or business, the amount and type of materials used and the amount of time needed to properly perform your service. If a company undercharges for their service, the technician will “rush through” the treatment, the company may use less expensive-less effective pest control materials as a way to cut costs. They simply cannot do the job properly, pay the technician adequately and still turn a profit. In the end, your money will be gone, but your bugs are not..
- Conclusion:
Choosing the right pest control provider can be a challenge, but these tips should help you to more easily make a pick. For homeowners in Chattanooga and Cleveland, that choice is even easier. We here at Volunteer Rid-A-Pest have decades of experience in the pest industry! Our technicians are trained professionals, and we offer a wide range of safe, targeted treatment plans that can deal with any pest problem quickly and effectively!
So if you are in need of pest control solutions, or simply have a question, give us a call today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736!
By: Erik
