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Questions To Ask Before Hiring Affordable Pest Control

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 13 November 2019 16:29
Questions To Ask Before Hiring Affordable Pest Control

There’s nothing more annoying than seeing a pest inside your house. If you live in Tampa, Florida, the chances of this happening are, unfortunately, very high. The weather, after all, seems to push all the pests to go out in the open, leaving any homeowner stressed out.

However, there’s nothing to be worried about. Because of the benefits it offers, the demand for pest control has led to a surge in the number of companies that aim to address these problems in the area. All you need to do is pick the best Tampa pest control so you can achieve your goal: a pest-free home.

The question, however, is how do you pick the best one? Here are some questions you can ask before hiring a pest control company:

 

What Pest Control Services Do You Offer?

It’s best to ask this question to pest control companies before hiring one precisely because you want a company that addresses that particular pest problem you have. In Tampa, there are many pests you might have to deal with, such as:

  • Rodents
  • Mosquitoes
  • Ants
  • Cockroaches
  • Termites (subterranean termites)
  • Bed Bugs
  • Wasps
  • Critters

If you have a termite problem, for instance, you want to hire a pest control company that offers the kind of service that can address this problem. If a pest control company doesn’t offer that service, why hire it in the first place?

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Is Your Company Licensed and Certified?

This is a very important question because you want your pest control company to operate legally and to be legitimate. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) requires the following from each company offering pest control to homes and other structures:

  • A license from FDACS
  • Minimum insurance coverage of $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, $250,000 per occurrence, and $500,000 in the aggregate for property damage, or combined single limit coverage of $500,000 in the aggregate
  • An operator in-charge that’s Florida-certified in the categories in which the pest control company operates
  • Pest control operators who are over 18 years old and who passed the state certification test

If a pest control company doesn’t meet any, or even at least one of these requirements, then better strike it off your list of those you might hire.

 

How Long Have You Been In the Business?

This is a very important question because the length of time a pest control company has been in the business will, in a way, determine the type of services you’ll get. The longer the period, the more you can expect the company to know what to do in specific situations.

These are some of the questions an experienced pest control company will be able to answer off-hand:

  • What are the signs of a termite infestation?
  • In which areas of the house should you look to find termites?
  • What are the common signs of rodent infestation?
  • What areas do you seal to prevent a rodent infestation?
  • Where in the house do mosquitoes thrive?
  • What are the entryways for critters?

Remember, there’s never a substitute for years of experience under one’s belt.

 

What Is the Cost of Your Services?

As in any other investment, you would like a pest control company that offers affordable services. In Tampa, clients usually get a free quote from the pest control company after its representative visits the property to be treated. Some companies charge per square footage of the property and per service to be availed of.

How do you get the best deal? Avail that free quotation from pest control companies and choose the one that offers the best service at a low cost.

 

Are Your Treatments Safe?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety said non-chemical treatments are preferred to chemical ones when dealing with pests. The former is believed not to pose any hazard to humans or to the environment. These treatments are also generally effective for longer periods of time and are less likely to create pest populations that are resistant to pesticides.

This is not to say, however, that the EPA discounts outright the use of chemical treatments. What the EPA does is it merely discourages their use, since they can be hazardous to people and yield temporary results. If this is the chosen method of treatment, the EPA suggested that it’s best to ask the company to use the least toxic chemical method. You can also ask for a Material Safety Data Sheet, which will show precautionary warnings.

The company should also be able to give you instructions on how to reduce your exposure to a pesticide, if this is used. For instance, it can tell you to vacate the premises that’s being treated or remove your food in the cupboards prior to treatment. 

 

Are You Affiliated With Any Pest Control Association?

Choose a pest control company that’s affiliated with a professional pest control association, such as the Florida Pest Management Association.

If a company is a member of one, you can be assured of its legitimacy and the high-quality services it offers. This is because members of a professional association are updated on the latest in pest control and in safety practices.

 

Do You Guarantee Your Work?

The pest control company you choose should be able to guarantee its work. This means if pests return even after the treatment, its operators are willing to come back to treat the affected area again at no cost.

Of course, you have to keep your end of the deal, which means you’ll have to ask what the company’s conditions for the guarantee. Some companies, for instance, don’t repeat a termite treatment if a house underwent some sort of renovation. 

A pest control company’s relationship with its client should not be a one-time deal. It’s a long-term relationship that both the company and you should nurture.

 

Conclusion

Picking the best in pest control should be a well thought out process. You don’t want to end up with a company that doesn’t live up to your expectations in the end.

These questions can help you make that decision by helping you screen the various companies that purport to offer the best of services to their clients. If you’re guided by the pointers, there’s no reason you won’t end up with a pest control company that’s a cut above the rest.

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Elena Tahora

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