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Pest control: what you are paying for
The first question is not the price. It is whether you are buying one treatment or a year of visits.
Call (844) 901-1058Connects you with a local pest control provider
Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.
The short version
- What sets the price
- The pest, the size of the house and one visit versus a contract.
- Ask for both
- The price of a single treatment and the terms of a plan.
- Check first
- The company's state license or permit.
The EPA advises
- Ask to see the license and the applicator's certification.
- Ask how long the company has been at its address.
- Get several estimates.
- Ask what the cover includes.
The EPA warns about
- Pressure to sign immediately.
- Deals that bundle unrelated work.
- Door-to-door offers.
- Claims of government endorsement.
What moves the price
- The pestAnts and roaches are routine. Bed bugs, termites and wildlife are different jobs with different prices.
- The houseSize, crawl spaces and how far the problem has spread all change the time needed.
- The planA contract spreads visits over the year. The EPA's view is that it should mean inspections, with treatment only when pests are present.
- Follow-upAsk whether return visits are included if the pests come back.
How to compare offers
- Describe the same problem to each company.
- Ask for the single-visit price and the contract terms in writing.
- Check each license with the state agriculture department.
- Compare what happens if the pests return.
"Licenses may be verified by calling the various State Departments of Agriculture," the EPA notes. Our city guides give the office for Tennessee and Alabama.
Related guides
Termite treatment: what drives the cost
Termite inspection: what you are paying for
Signs of bed bugsSources
- US Environmental Protection Agency: selecting a pest control service