How to Hire an Extermination Company

Asking friends and neighbors for recommendations is the place to start. Judging the quality of customer service offered by an exterminator can only be done by asking someone who has experience with the company. Any recommendations you receive will also give you a start on comparing the effectiveness of the company’s pest control methods. You’ll need to contact several different companies. If you can’t find any personal recommendations, look into a referral service that includes recommendations such as Angie’s list.

As a general rule, you shouldn’t ask for a pest control estimate over the phone. Many questions about an exterminator can only be answered when you meet them in person. How is their appearance and manner? You’re looking for a professional. Were they on time? If not, did they call ahead to notify you? How was the appearance of their vehicle? You’re looking for clean, professional and well marked. Was their manner helpful and informative or did they use high pressure sales tactics?

Ask questions to help you determine how professional they are. How long has each exterminator been in business? Are they licensed with the state? Can they provide documentation? If not they’re not a good candidate for your business. If you have questions, verify their claims. Ask how much training their technicians have.

Another important question is whether or not the extermination company is insured. The way to verify this is to ask for a certificate of insurance. Lack of insurance is a serious problem. Do not do business with a service that can’t or won’t verify their insurance. Does the company belong to any professional pest control associations? These associations offer benefits to their members such as educational opportunities. Any reputable extermination company probably belongs to at least one professional association.

Ask how the company typically solves pest control problems. This is an important question. A professional exterminator will not limit their answer to pesticides alone. A knowledgeable representative will also discuss ways to prevent infestations, such as eliminating sources of food and shelter and ways to prevent pests from entering the home.

How will the firm react if you have a sudden insect infestation? You would expect the company to say they would come in quickly to knock down the infestation. Ask what steps they would take to insure the infestation does not reoccur. The exterminator should be able to talk about the life cycle of pests and what they will do to break the life cycle and prevent re-infestation.

Ask about their prices. How do their prices and services compare with other exterminators? The benefit of asking for several bids is the opportunity to compare one company with another. While price is one factor, other equally important factors include the professionalism of the company, how knowledgeable they are and the level and quality of customer service they offer. Understanding how these companies compare on a wide range of factors will allow you to make a wise decision.

Florida Bug Inspectors is a leading Tampa extermination firm. They have helped thousands of Florida families solve their pest control problems for over 20 years. If you’re in Tampa and need help with pests, call FBI.