Casa Garden

Start the search for an exterminator by asking friends, family, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. While these personal recommendations are not perfect, they do provide a way to judge the ability of the company to provide good customer service. They also provide a way to judge the effectiveness of the pest control methods and techniques used by the company. If you can’t find at least 3 recommendations, check with a referral service that includes recommendations, such as Angie’s list.

Ask the exterminators to meet you in person. Many of the questions you’ll have can be best answered in person. Note their manner and appearance. Do they look and act professional? Did they arrive on time? If not, did they call and notify you of the change? Does their vehicle appear professional? Is it clean and well marked? Were they helpful and informative or did they act more like were a salesman?

Be sure to ask the right questions. Like how long the company has been in business. More experience is preferred. Again, more is better. Are they licensed? Ask how much training their technicians have. Professional exterminators are licensed by the state and technicians are typically required to have a certain amount of training annually. Verify their claim by checking with the state. Any company that doesn’t provide such proof isn’t worth doing business with.

It’s important to ask if the exterminator is insured. Ask for a certificate of insurance. Lack of insurance is a serious problem and says the company is not truly professional. Avoid pest control companies that can’t or won’t furnish such a certificate. Also ask whether the company belongs to any professional associations. These trade associations offer several benefits to their members. And membership is another clue to the professionalism of the company.

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 company handle an insect infestation? Will they react quickly or will it take a few days to make an appointment? What is their policy on re-treatment? Is it free? Ask what the company will do to prevent a re-infestation. In response the exterminator should talk about the life cycle of the pest and different ways to “break” the life cycle to prevent future problems.

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 family owned pest control firm in Tampa. They’ve been pest control experts for more than 20 years. If you need help with insect extermination in Tampa call FBI.