How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step in the pest control process is hiring the right company for you. Important factors can include the company's qualifications, its treatment methods, experience and reviews, and of course the cost of services.
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 competency standards for pesticide application, licensure is taken care of at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and those who supervise them) in Michigan need to be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can obtain optional certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations. These certifications can help you evaluate the quality of a company's products. For example, the GreenPro Service Certification indicates comprehensive and effective pest control treatment that is safer for humans and the environment.
Pest control companies can also be members of certain professional organizations. When a company joins an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to education, resources, and a network of other pest control professionals with whom to compare treatment methods. This can give you extra peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a pest company's experience level by looking at how many years it has been in operation. Local reviews and the company's own website can also clue you in as to whether the company has the experience needed to deal with the specific species of pests that are afflicting your home. You can call the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can look up a company's rating and reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), read social media and local review sites to see what other people are saying, or verify its license standing via the Michigan licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors can all affect the cost of pest control.
You can find out whether a company provides free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget) and what type of guarantees it offers. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not resolve your pest problem, it will keep coming back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Keeping yourself, your family and your pets safe is an important consideration when choosing a pest control provider. You may also prefer one that employes eco-friendly practices.
Safety
Be sure to ask your pest control expert if they will be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides—if not, ask about what precautionary measures will be in place. Any pesticide that has been deemed above minimum risk should be registered with the EPA. Your pest control company should be able to supply information about all pesticides that will be used in your home, and how safe they are around people and pets.
Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more eco-friendly pest control management solutions before jumping into using harsh pesticides.
One popular method for making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always with other techniques for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and continue with additional pest control as needed.
