According to a prediction by Grand View Research, the global market for pest control services could top US$28 Billion by 2027.
So, there is a good chance you might need to employ the services of a specialist company to deal with issues relating to rodents, termites or insects at some point soon.
Should you find yourself in this position, you will need to act swiftly to rid yourself of the pests before they well and truly take root – most typically by calling in the professionals.
But how do you know which ones to contact?
Here are nine tips you should consider when hiring pest control services for your home or office.
- Identify the issue
Before you contact any pest control services, it is a good idea to identify the issue.
Doing this will help you determine what pests are causing you grief and in which particular areas of your home or office.
In turn, this will help you to hire the most appropriate specialist service to deal with the problem.
Additionally, you’ll be able to give them as much information as you can to identify their possible locations.
- Draw up a shortlist of companies
Once you have identified the issue, the next step is to draw up a shortlist of potential pest control services you can use.
The most obvious way to do this is via a quick Google search. However, you might also want to ask your friends or business contacts for referrals of companies they have had specific dealings with.
This shortlist should include at least four to six companies and be a mix of specialists for your particular issue (e.g. rodents or termites) and those who offer more general services.
- Research these companies
Once you have collated this list, you should take the time to research them thoroughly.
Doing this should involve browsing their website to determine exactly what services they offer and how professional they appear to be.
Additionally, you should read reviews customers have left about them on Google and Facebook and do a web search to see if you can find any positive or negative news stories about them.
- Contact your top two or three choices
Having done your research, you should have a gut feeling for the two or three companies you most like the look and sound of.
Subsequently, you should take the time to reach out to them to find out more about their operation.
Some of the questions you should ask include:
- How will you deal with my particular pest problem?
- What licences, accreditations or industry certifications do you have?
- What insurance does your business have?
- How soon can you deal with my problem?
- Get quotes
If you are happy with their answers, then it’s time to request a quote from all of them.
This could involve representatives of the companies coming to your home or office to ascertain the full scope of the problem. Or they might just quote you a flat fee rate.
Either way, make sure you get a quote in writing, either on headed paper or via a valid email address from the company name’s domain.
- Evaluate the quotes
Once you have received the quotes, you should take the time to evaluate them.
As tempting as it might be, don’t just blindly accept the lowest price. Instead, take the opportunity to work out which company will provide you with the best value for money.
Ultimately, you want your pest control services to rid you of your issues, so establish what exactly you will be paying for.
For instance, some companies might only treat the room where the problem has been identified and not the entire property.
Moreover, if they don’t give you a guarantee that the problem will be solved, they might instead offer you a service-free period to come back should they fail to eradicate the issue at the first time of asking.
- Determine what chemicals they use
It is only natural to harbour concerns about what chemicals, if any, these petrol control services use and the potential for toxicity they have.
Therefore, before accepting any quote, it is worth asking each company to clarify what they use to carry out their treatments and what potential effects they might have on you, your family or workmates.
Don’t just take their word for it, though. Make sure you do your own research as well.
It is also worth asking if they use any environmentally friendly pest control products as they might cost a bit more than other cheaper treatments that might have potentially toxic chemicals, so may contribute to a higher priced quote.
- Establish what documentation you will receive
This information might have been relayed to you in the quote or during your initial contact with the company.
However, if it has not already been discussed, you should also establish what documentation you will receive from them after the work has been completed.
Ideally, you should be given a detailed report outlining what areas of your home or workplace have been treated and in what ways. You may also receive photographic proof, particularly if you had work done for termite damage.
- Accept your preferred quote
Having done all this, you should now have a firm idea of which quote you want to accept.
So, all that is left to do is let the company know and confirm a date they will start the work!
FAQs
What does pest control handle?
Different pest control services will offer various areas of specialisation. However, as a rule of thumb, most professional companies will be able to eradicate issues relating to rodents, insects and termite infestations.
How is pest control done?
Typically, pest control services conduct a range of practices, including setting traps, removing pests caught in the traps, blocking windows, holes and doorways, destroying or removing nests and implementing methods of temperature control to kill pests. Additionally, some companies will also offer a deep cleaning service as well.