How To Choose A Termite Company

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Do you know something more irritating than having sneaky pests hanging around in your house and munching on your wood like they own the place? Well, we don’t! That’s why we’ll tell you all about how to choose a termite company so that you can fix the issue fast with minimum damage. All you have to do is read on!

The Dos

First, we’ll talk about the steps you should follow and the points you should keep in mind before hiring a pest control service. So without further ado, let’s jump into it!

Identify The Pests

Typically, the first step you should follow is to make sure that the pests invading your house are, in fact, termites. Insects resemble each other significantly, so mixing two types is pretty common.

However, suppose you plan on contacting a pest control company. In that case, you should check beforehand because control methods and plans differ from one insect to another, especially when you have a problem as dangerous as termites. This way, you’ll be able to decide whether you want general pest control or a more specific procedure.

Decide On A Budget

It’s essential to decide on a budget before calling a pest control company to your house only to find they’re too expensive for you. Luckily, most pest control companies will tell you the cost of their work over the phone. This way, you’ll be able to decide before reserving an inspection. That said, the accurate price may not show till they perform a complete termite inspection in your place.

In addition, not all companies provide the same billing methods. For example, some prefer one-time payments, while some may provide a billing cycle.

Get Termite Insurance

When you call a pest control company, you should ask about the insurance they can provide for you. Unfortunately, some home insurances don’t cover termite repairs, becoming costly. As a result, you should either choose a warranty program or plan a yearly termite inspection if you can’t afford the former. This way, you’ll be able to prevent the problem before it’s too late.

Ask About The Company’s Reputation

You’ll never uncover the whole truth about a pest control company without asking about its reputation. Accordingly, you should think well and read online reviews before making a decision. This is mainly because you must choose a reliable, trustworthy, and competent company.

And since termite infestations have been around us for decades, you’re more likely to find a company you trust.

Ask About The Service Guarantee

While pest control companies generally provide a service guarantee, the terms and conditions may differ significantly from one company to another. For example, if you find termites after the company leaves, it may provide a free returning visit to inspect the issue. Moreover, some companies offer a money-back guarantee in case of unfortunate events like the failure of pest treatments.

That said, some companies don’t provide a service guarantee at all. As a result, you should ask about your options before reserving an inspection with the pest control company.

Look For A Licensed Company

Ideally, you should choose a pest control company that meets your state’s licensing requirements. However, since some states have stricter standards than others, these may differ significantly. This is essential because it’ll guarantee you a high-quality service and trustworthy handling.

In addition, it’d be best if you asked the company whether they’ve dealt with a similar issue to yours before. The answer might put you at ease so that you can make the decision and hire them.

The Don’ts

After telling you what you should do before hiring a pest control company, it’s time for you to know about the things you should stay away from.

Don’t Make A Quick Decision

Termite infestations are frightening, but it’s doubtful that they’ll worsen in just a few days. Accordingly, you should take your time choosing a pest control company and think thoroughly before making a decision. This is essential because quick decisions aren’t always the right ones.

On top of that, there are a lot of points to consider, people to ask, and contracts to sign before choosing a company. Believe us; you don’t want to miss an essential step because you’re low on time.

Don’t Ignore Your Intuition

When it comes to regular house visits, you should make sure you’re comfortable with the people coming. As a result, you should trust your intuition if you feel uncomfortable during the company’s interview.

Personal connections are essential, and while company representatives are almost always friendly, it wouldn’t harm to pay attention. This way, you’ll be able to hire a pest control company you’re comfortable with.

Don’t Sign the Contract Immediately

Although the Environmental Protection Agency regulates all local pest control companies, they don’t always have the same contracts. As a result, you should read the agreement thoroughly before you sign it. You don’t want to sign the paper and then find out that there are terms you don’t agree to.

Moreover, it’d be best if you made sure that the contract you’re signing includes periodic termite inspections. This way, you’ll be able to prevent issues before they occur and keep your house free of sneaky pests.

How Much Should A Termite Job Cost?

In general, termite treatments are more on the pricey side of the market. This is mainly because they’re sneaky pests that can go on munching on wood and damaging your property for years without you noticing.

As a result, when you do detect them, the damage is often already too extensive. That’s why it’s crucial that you make regular inspections in your home and look for swarming termites, shed wings, and mud tubes.

But how much exactly does a termite job cost? Well, it depends on many factors. For example, it may differ according to the type of termite invading your house, the severity of the damage, and how large the colony is. That said, the average cost ranges from $200 to 800$. Most pest control companies will also take property size into account.

In addition, they’ll decide on the number and the type of the required treatments before they tell you the entire cost. That’s why we’ll let you know about the types of control that pest control companies offer so that you’ll have a background before deciding.

What Are The Types Of Pest Control?

There are five treatment options that pest control companies provide, and we’ll give you a brief about each one of them.

Chemical Pest Control

This may be the most famous pest control method, and luckily, it isn’t that expensive. Chemical control mainly includes applying liquid soil treatments to your house’s exterior. There are many chemicals that pest control technicians use in this method. For example, they may use permethrin, imidacloprid, Termidor, fipronil, arsenic trioxide, and bifenthrin.

In general, chemical control is the best choice when it comes to drywood or subterranean termite infestations and pest problems that haven’t invaded your entire property just yet. During chemical treatments, general pest control services dig holes and trenches around your house; then, they pour the chemical substances inside of them.

Tenting Treatment

ِTenting treatments are more suitable for massive termite infestations. For example, if an infestation invades an entire house, then tenting treatment is the obvious choice. However, this type of treatment doesn’t work effectively against underground termites. Instead, it works wonders for in-house pest infestations.

Pest control services often drape your entire house in a tent to do this the right way. Next, they inject chemicals that are fatal to termites in the enclosed fabric. Generally, this method costs a little more than others.

Bait Treatment

If you have drywood or subterranean termites, bait treatments might be your second best option after chemical treatments. Typically, it mainly depends on baiting termites with poison. During this control method, pest control services dig holes around your property. Next, they install bait stations inside the holes. Afterward, termites will pass by those stations and eat the poison.

Generally, bait treatments are more expensive than chemical treatments because they require more intricate work and regular visits. Also, they’re much less precise than the other types.

Fumigation Treatment

Fumigation treatment is the most aggressive method when it comes to killing termites. It includes covering the whole house with a tent and then injecting it with a fatal gas. This successfully destroys all the termites invading your place. However, it takes quite a long time.

It may take several hours for the whole house to be eradicated from termites. In addition, this method would require you, your pets, and your plants to leave the house for a few days after the fumigation treatment for health reasons.

Heat Tenting Treatment

Heat tenting treatment is an organic, chemical-free method to get rid of termites. Pest control companies often provide it for the entire house or for a specific area in your home where termites can be found. But, first, pest control professionals will cover your property with a large tent so that they can fully control the temperature.

Second, they’ll pump hot air into the tent until they reach a specific temperature that is enough to kill the sneaky termites. They’ll also monitor the temperature of the structural wood in your house so that they can make sure that it’s suitable.

This process takes about eight or nine hours to be over. After that, the termite control professionals will remove the tent. Then, once the house’s temperature drops again, you and your family can return without an issue.

Is It Worth Paying For Pest Control?

If you’re still unsure about hiring a professional pest control company, we’ll convince you! Here are the benefits of hiring one, whether for eradicating or preventive pest control.

Safety

The first benefit and the most important one is the health and safety of you and your family members. It’s a known fact that pests carry many transmittable diseases. As a result, if you leave them be in your house, you’ll be risking your health. Moreover, getting rid of pests will immediately lower this risk to a minimum.

If you’re against pesticide use, then you can look for pest control companies that provide green pest control services, guaranteed by the National Pest Management Association. Many companies also use integrated pest management techniques, which are eco-friendly.

Cost

You may think that professional pest control services cost too much money, but not calling them costs even more in the long run. This is because they often fix the damage before it gets too bad, and we all know how a termite infestation can become destructive to a property.

Not to mention pest control companies get rid of termites faster than any DIY methods, which aren’t always practical, by the way. Finally, most termite control services will offer scheduled visits to your house to ensure that the termites never return at no additional costs whatsoever.

Inspection

No matter how many times you do a termite inspection in your house, it won’t be as efficient as that of a pest control company. This is mainly because they can find the exact source of your pest problem and eradicate it so that those sneaky pests won’t return to your place. Meanwhile, homemade controls don’t always guarantee total eradication.

In addition, any termite control process will include a thorough inspection of your house, both indoors and outdoors. As a result, any pest problems that you don’t know about will come to light. After thoroughly inspecting your place, the pest control company will offer you a personalized control plan. They might also suggest that they do routine inspections of your house.

Pest Control Experience

Pest control companies often undergo professional education and training about handling termites and getting rid of them. Moreover, they know the proper methods to eliminate each pest. So even if you have pests other than termites in your place, they’ll know what to do. This will ensure that you don’t waste time trying DIY methods.

In addition, they might have access to technologies and pesticide products that aren’t ordinarily available to everyday customers.

To Wrap Up

Pest control companies are lifesavers, especially when it comes to termite problems. That’s why you should make the right choice. To choose a suitable pest control service, you should decide on a budget, read the contract thoroughly, and get termite insurance.

Now that you know enough about the points you should take care of and the methods that companies try to eradicate termites with, you should be able to make the right decision!

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