Top 5 Tips To Find The Best Pest Control

While most South Florida home and business owners are aware that pests thrive in the tropical conditions the sunshine state is known for, you may not know just where to turn when you suspect pest activity in your own home or business. The fact is that pests, such as rodents, typically mice and rats, or insects, such as termites, cockroaches, ants, or bed bugs are always looking for a way to get into your home or business.

Proactive home and business owners take steps to prevent pests from entering their homes by making their homes unattractive to pests and by hiring a pest control company to build a pest barrier around their property. How do you find the right pest control company for your needs?

1. Research  pest control companies

To find reliable pest control services for your needs, you might start by searching for the “best pest control near me.” Check a few local company websites, and go to Angi to find companies such as Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. It will be worth your while to compare services and prices associated with the big pest control companies, such as Terminix and Orkin, alongside local companies. Make sure the companies you are researching are licensed and certified in the state of Florida. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, pest control companies must be:

• Licensed by the FDACS
• Carry the required insurance coverage
• Employ a full-time Florida-certified operator in charge of the pest control operations

Further, certified operators in charge of pest control operations must be certified in:

• General Household Pest and Rodent Control
• Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms Control
• Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control
• Fumigation

Find out if the pest control companies you are thinking about hiring use broad-spectrum sprays or pinpointed treatments for specific pests that are present in your home or business. Ask if the materials used are pet and human-friendly or whether you will need to leave your location and take your pets with you during treatment. Many pest control companies are using an integrated pest management approach (IPM) that uses more pinpointed treatments for the pests currently in your home or business, as well as non-repellent liquids and eco-friendly baits to treat certain pest infestations.

Read reviews from other customers on the company’s website or other sites, such as Yelp. Ask your neighbors, coworkers, and other people in your life who they have used for pest issues.

2. Contact pest control companies that offer FREE inspections

Most reputable pest control companies will offer a free pest inspection, and some will charge a fee for inspections that is usually refundable if you decide to contract with that company. During your pest inspection, technicians will check places where infestations usually occur to find the source of a current infestation. Under kitchen appliances, any water-prone areas, basements, and attics are typically part of a pest inspection. For specific pest inspections, such as for rodents, technicians look for chewed wiring, gnawed wood, and greasy rub marks that indicate paths that rodents travel in your home. A thorough pest inspection will also include looking for places in your foundation where pests can gain entrance to your home.

3. Customized treatments that fit your budget

After assessing the extent and type of current pest issue you are experiencing, pest control companies will suggest a plan of treatment for your infestation. A rodent infestation is handled differently than a roach problem. Rodents can prove challenging as rats are suspicious of new things in their environment and may not eat the bait laid out for them. Baits must be placed strategically to reduce rodents dying in hard-to-reach places, such as behind-wall voids. Technicians will return to collect rodent carcasses at intervals until no rodent activity is still evident in your home. Roaches can be treated with baits that are not toxic to humans or pets.

A reliable and trusted pest control company will walk you through the cost and labor associated with the specific pest management solution they have suggested for your pest infestation, addressing any questions and concerns that may arise before, during, and after your treatment. Expert pest control companies will alert you when their technician is on his/her way to your home or business.

4. Professional vs DIY pest control

While professional pest control can seem expensive, it is probably cheaper than attempting to eliminate an infestation on your own. Why? Well, even though you may have the skills to tackle pest infestations, DIYers don’t have access to the strength and quality of materials that professional pest control companies use to treat infestations, expediently and safely. The professional pest control company you choose for your pest issue should promote safety above all else, because of the nature of the materials used to perform pest control services. Safety is another reason to hire a professional pest control company instead of trying to tackle pest concerns yourself. In addition to using pest control products safely, you also take on the responsibility of storing these dangerous products out of reach of kids and pets.

For some infestations, pest control professionals are required to tackle your problem. These infestations include:

• Rodents
• Termites
• Bedbugs
• Cockroaches
• Carpenter ants
• Beehive removal

5. Pest-proofing your home

After your chosen pest control company has successfully eliminated the pest issue in your home or business and you are satisfied with the results, in South Florida, there’s no time like the present to inquire about pest prevention. Most professional pest control companies offer pest prevention programs, such as Petri’s Protect-A Guard service. Our technicians create a pest-proof barrier around your property, treating areas where pest infestations begin, in order to stop pests from entering your home or business. This means you don’t need to wait around for our team to show up, as long as we can access the perimeter of your property, bi-monthly or quarterly. Most pest professionals also offer termite prevention services that are important to South Florida homeowners, as well.

When you suspect pest activity in your home, you need a reliable, trusted pest control company! Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. is a locally owned full spectrum pest control company that has serviced homes and businesses since 1956, in South Florida! In Palm Beach and Broward Counties, contact Petri Pest Control for a FREE pest inspection! We want to be your go-to neighborhood pest control company for reliable, affordable, and quality pest control services.