Find a pro
DIY or call a professional?
Plenty of pest problems are a weekend job. Some are not: they spread, cause structural damage or put your health at risk. Here is how to tell the difference, and how to hire well when you need help.
Call a professional when
- The pest can damage the structure (termites, carpenter ants, rodents chewing wiring).
- It is a health risk: stinging insects near an allergic person, bats in living areas, raccoon latrines.
- Two or three weeks of careful DIY have not reduced the signs.
- You share walls with neighbours (apartments, townhouses): treatment has to be coordinated.
- Removal involves protected wildlife, permits or climbing on the roof.
Usually a job for a pro: bed bugs, termites, raccoons, bats, beavers.
Which professional do you need?
General pest control company
Insects, spiders and rodents inside the home. Most offer one-time treatments and recurring service plans.
Ants · Cockroaches · Mice · Rats · Spiders · Wasps & Yellow Jackets
Termite (wood-destroying insect) specialist
Termite inspections, liquid treatments and bait systems, and the inspection reports lenders ask for when a home is sold.
Wildlife control operator
Raccoons, squirrels, bats, skunks and other animals. Many states license nuisance wildlife operators separately from pesticide applicators.
Beekeeper
Honey bee swarms and colonies in walls. Local beekeeping clubs often collect swarms and can recommend removal specialists.
Check the licence
In the US, anyone applying pesticides for hire must be certified and licensed by the state, usually through the department of agriculture or environmental agency. Most of these agencies have a free online licence lookup. Wildlife removal may need a separate state permit. Ask for the licence number and check it before anyone starts work.
A good company inspects first, explains what it found, and follows integrated pest management (IPM): fixing entry points, moisture and food sources, and using targeted treatments rather than spraying everywhere.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Are you licensed by the state, and what is your licence number? (Then check it with your state pesticide regulatory agency.)
- Are you insured for liability and, for your staff, workers' compensation?
- What did the inspection find, and can I have it in writing with a diagram?
- Which products will you use? Ask for the product names and EPA registration numbers, and the safety data sheets.
- What should we do before and after treatment: children, pets, fish tanks, food, re-entry time?
- How many visits are included, and what does the guarantee cover if the pest comes back?
- Is this a one-time job or a service contract, and how do I cancel?
Red flags
- Door-to-door sellers offering a "leftover" discount for signing today
- A price without an inspection, or a quote that only covers the first visit
- No written contract, no licence number or no product names
- Pressure to treat for termites or mold without showing you evidence
- Promises that a single spray will solve bed bugs or German cockroaches
Get two or three quotes
Prices vary a lot by pest, home size and region. Written quotes from two or three licensed companies, based on an inspection, are the best way to see what a fair price is where you live. Compare what each visit includes and the guarantee terms, not only the total.