How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When picking a pest control company, you want to be sure to find the right one for you. Factors you might consider include qualifications and licensing, treatment methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
Below, we dive into detail on each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum standards of competency for pesticide application, licensure is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and their supervisors) in Georgia need to be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can also obtain optional certifications like the GreenPro Service Certification. This certification is granted once a company has shown its methods to be more environmentally friendly and demonstrated that it also holds itself up to certain other standards, such as up-to-date training for employees. A company can also earn other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support its methods and practices.
There are several professional organizations that a pest control company can belong to. Being a member of organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations is not mandatory, but helps verify a company's reputability. The NPMA gives companies access to education, resources, and a network of other professionals with whom to discuss practices and methods.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Looking at how long a company has been in business can help determine how much experience it has taking care of common pests in Stonecrest. You can also look at its website or peruse customer reviews to figure out whether it has experience eliminating the type of pests you are looking to get rid of. If this information is not available online, contacting a representative directly is a great way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's reputation using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and local review sites or social media. You can also check with Georgia's licensing board to see the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
It's important to think about cost when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be influenced by the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
Companies will often offer free on-site estimates as part of their process, to help you decide whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether if your company has a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment might affect the provider and the treatment methods you choose.
Safety
Ask your pest control expert if they plan to use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides—if not, ask about what precautionary measures they plan to use. Any pesticide that presents above a minimum risk should be registered with the EPA. Your pest control company should provide information about all pesticides that will be used in your home, in addition to how safe they are around people and pets.
Treatment Methods
Many companies are now trialing options for more eco-friendly pest control solutions before moving to harsh pesticides.
One popular way of making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other techniques for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.
