In case you haven’t noticed pest control services have become very popular as of late. This is due to the huge increase in bed bug activity throughout the nation. Bed bugs are spreading so quickly that they soon will reach epidemic status. As the problem becomes larger more individuals are entering the industry looking to make a buck off of a hot trend.
As a consumer you need to know a few things about the pest control industry in order to make an informed decision about who to call.
The pest control industry has been around for many years and has a notoriously bad image. In fact, if someone just say’s the word exterminator it conjures up a picture of a man spraying baseboards with a can filled with pesticides (not professional). Unfortunately, this can be true,but in most instances those operators are being weeded out naturally by the poor service they provide and a new breed is stepping in to take their place.
The “new” generation of PMP’s (pest management professionals) are well educated business people who have embraced changes within the industry. The days of splash and dash are over and have been replaced with inspection, judicious pesticide usage and follow up. The new breed of PMP knows the business top to bottom and steps in tune with regulatory changes and uses new technology to their advantage. These new generation companies are more likely to be found advertising via word of mouth, internet and through professional networking rather than in the newspaper or direct mail.
As a homeowner you must realize that all PMP’s are NOT created equal. Here’s how to spot the good ones
1. They are not afraid to tell you their personal and business occupational license numbers.
2. They have insurance above state minimum requirements.
3. They have references.
4. They belong to their state and national organizations. They are also certified as QualityPro from the National Pest Management Association. The QualityPro designation truly separates the fly by night companies and those in it for the long haul. It’s similar to a good housekeeping seal of approval.
5. They can explain exactly what the process is for controlling your pests, what they will use and how long it will take.
6. They provide you with MSDS sheets as well as Types De Pesticides label information for the products they use.
7. Their appearance is that of a professional. If it’s not, keep looking.
8. Call your states environmental protection agency and ask if there have been any enforcement actions against the company in the last 5 years.
Finally, use your gut if something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t. Good luck finding How To Avoid Rats At Home Naturally a true professional because as it turns out bed bugs do bite when the lights go out!
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