When your home or office are under attack from pesky insects, mice, or other vermin, you’ll need to get a pest control professional asap to handle the problem.
There are lots of pest control companies in every city and town but knowing what to look for regarding the best you can hire calls for being aware of not only what it takes to qualify, but also what that pest control company can do and has done.
When it comes to pest control, one has to first take into consideration that the experts may be using toxic materials and need to do some demolition on your property like removing flooring or sections of walls to get at the vermin. You don’t want just anyone into your home or office tearing it apart like in a Three Stooges movie. You want people who know exactly what they’re doing and the first thing is to look for certification. Is the company certified to do what they’re promoting? Is each member of the team certified and a qualified professional? If not, don’t even think of hiring them or you’ll end up in trouble along the way.
Are they recommended by others and for how long have they been in business? Pest control is one of those businesses where if it isn’t done right, the company won’t be in business for long. Check to see if they’ve a website featuring information about them. Also check the better business bureau to see what their standing is. People in your area will more than likely have posted about the company on social media sites that will show up in a search engine query. Some people won’t talk about having pest control done because they’re embarrassed so don’t be surprised if there’s some missing information.
Are they insured? That’s a big flashing A question. If they’re not insured they shouldn’t even be in business. The authorities can’t investigate everyone so you sometimes have companies that have skated, sometimes for years and the public Is left unaware until it’s too late. Check with the authorities first then ask the company. If things don’t match up, beat feet out of there. Without insurance if they screw up your property or injure someone or even a pet, you’ll be the one having to fork over the money for repairing the damage done.
Courtesy and customer service. You can tell a lot about a company just by how they answer the phone. It’s one of the most important indicators of whether the company prides itself in competence and courtesy. If you call the company and someone answers with sloppy dialogue, inconsistencies, and rudeness, then it’s better to just hang up and keep on searching. If they can’t hold a competent and amicable conversation from the start, you’ll only end up with worse down the line. Another factor is does the company answer your questions. Do they answer the tough questions regarding safety? Any hesitation on their part in this regard is a clear indicator that they’re hiding something or engaged in some kind of deception.
Overall, use some common sense. Don’t rush in or panic because of the vermin, make sure you choose a pest control specialist that you can count on. Your due diligence will mean a thorough job is performed and you save money in the short and long term.
Image credit: Andriy Popov