Is Quarterly Pest Control Worth It?

Preventative maintenance is the key to dealing with pests. However, many people believe that quarterly pest control is just as useful in a business as it is in a home. The real issue comes down to dollars and cents, as no one wants to pay for something they don’t feel is beneficial. The issue is that there are many bugs just waiting to invade your New Jersey home, and quarterly services might be what keeps them at bay.

One of the arguments against quarterly pest control is that it’s a scam and an unnecessary service, but this is a statement made from someone who’s uninformed. Actually, having routine pest control from a highly reputable company is very effective. Sure, you can study all the techniques and take preventative measures to ensure that you don’t get any pests in your home, but it’s no guarantee of anything.

Some do-it-yourself pest control methods work, and others are merely a waste of money. Using your money to find out what’s effective can be costly, as the trial-and-error process isn’t cheap. Plus, when you throw a bunch of chemicals at an infestation that’s not effective, you can make the situation worse by creating a resistant bug.

You need to realize that it’s much easier to prevent the fire from starting than trying to put it out all the time. This is especially true if you live in a neighborhood prone to water bugs, roaches, and bedbugs.

Sure, some scam companies out there just want to prey on people and take their money, but you can always separate them from the ones who’ve been in business for a while and have verifiable credentials. Never conduct business with someone whose only office is in the back of their truck, as it’s just asking for trouble.

Let’s find out if quarterly pest control worth it.

Understanding Quarterly Pest Control Services

While each pest control company will tailor their services for the specific needs of the area, you will generally find these sessions include the following things:

• Conduct a thorough inspection to see any signs of insects.
• Spray the interior to create a barrier for pests
• Spray the exterior to create a barrier for bugs
• Treat the crevices around doors and windows to detract insects
• Rid wasp, spider, and bee nests
• Take care of anything they see that needs to be handled keeps your property bug free

Source: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef639

When the exterminator arrives at your home, they will ask if they need to address anything specifically. If it’s ant season and you’re starting to see these little insects head inside, then it’s wise to treat them. The time of year dictates the focus during the quarterly treatment, as you can deal with stinkbugs, ladybugs, or even flying ants.

From your testimony and observation, they will determine the best course of treatment for your home. The technician will enter the house and go around the perimeters of all the rooms. They spray a protective barrier that keeps pests at bay. As they go through the rooms, they will look for bugs hiding in spots where they frequent, like light plates or corners.

If they see an issue that needs prompt attention, they will get the specific treatment or traps required to take care of it. Most insecticides don’t have an order and are perfectly safe for dogs and kids alike, but you should ask if you have any concerns about the safety of a product, before it’s used.

Source: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/

Once they’ve completed the inside, they move to the outside. Areas of concern they will treat include the following:

• Doors
• Windows – including basement
• Foundation
• Possibly the yard

Spraying these locations puts a barrier of protection in place to keep bugs from entering your home. Preventing them is always better than battle these pests later.

The Five Benefits of Routine Pest Control

Now that you know what happens during one of these quarterly visits, you need to consider all the benefits involved. Here is a list of a few to contemplate.

1. Help from Knowledgeable Professionals

You can read the internet and find all you can about the pest you’re dealing with, but it won’t give you the same insight as someone who’s battled these bugs. When you have a quarterly plan, you have a technician that works with you and your home.

They get to know you and your needs and what bugs, and insects frequents your area. They take time to give you all the ins and outs of pest control, and you don’t have to scroll the internet for hours on end to gain understanding. When you’re dealing with something as malicious as a bedbug infestation or cockroaches, knowledge is power.

2. It’s Effective

These services are incredibly effective in keeping pests at bay. Think about all the potential damages you’re saving your family from handling and the health risk and issues you’re avoiding. Some companies even warranty their services because they know it works.

3. Saves Money in the Long Run

Some areas are more prone to pests than others, which can hit your budget hard, and it’s hard to keep up with it constantly. When you use a quarterly service, you prepare for this expense, and there are no surprises. There’s nothing worse than seeing bedbugs or roaches when you’re broke and between paydays, and you need assistance.

You don’t have to worry about unexpected expenses as the cost of these service plans is figured into your household bills. It always costs more money to call for emergency services than to use preventative ones.

4. Keeps Your Household on a Schedule

It’s easy to forget preventative measures when you’re so busy. However, when you have a routine pest control plan, you keep your home on a schedule that ensures whatever season you enter, you’re covered. Plus, if you have an issue and see a few bugs, you can get it under control before it becomes an infestation.

5. Saves You Time

Everyone’s busy, and life is chaotic at times. Using a pest control service will allow you to focus on other things, as you know your home is protected. Peace of mind is priceless and well worth the affordability of these plans.

The Top Four Treatment Resistant Pests

Are there some pests you can take care of without help from an exterminator? Sure, there are many pests that a simple do-it-yourself method will work. However, it’s always better to get a professional involved when it gets to the point of an infestation. Once you get the current issues under control, going forward with a quarterly pest control plan is the best way to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Some pests will essentially laugh when you throw store-bought treatments at them. They are treatment-resistant and often need professional intervention. These stubborn and sometimes dangerous bugs are not something that will just go. Here is a list of the worst, and these pests make quarterly upkeep safe and affordable.

Source: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/

1. Bedbugs

Nothing sends chills down your spine like seeing a bedbug crawling across your covers. Not only is this pest stubborn, but they don’t just stay in the bedroom. You can have them on your couch, chairs, blankets, furniture, and anywhere they can find warmth. They repopulate quickly, and due to their ability to hide, their tough to get rid of.

2. Wasps and Hornets

Wasps and hornets are very aggressive in nature. Due to the danger involved, they should be handled by a trained professional. It could become a life-threatening situation if you try to remove a nest without the proper equipment.

3. Termites

Termite damage can cost you thousands of dollars to repair, and it can affect the home’s structural integrity. Catching them sooner is better for your wallet, as the longer they have to chew, the more expensive the damages will be.

4. Roaches

When it comes to highly resistant bugs, roaches are at the top of the list. These pests repopulate so quickly that it’s hard to get things under control before they mate again. Did you know that many over-the-counter methods will kill about 75 percent of the population, but they can repopulate quickly in a couple of months?

So, just when you think you’ve got rid of them, they’re back for round two. Therefore, these infestations get out of hand very quickly, and you need someone who is trained to help.

Watch Out for Pest Conrol Scammers

Are there scammers out there that are trying to take advantage of people? Sure, there are always “companies” looking to make a quick buck without providing the services they promise. However, there are a few ways to spot the reputable businesses that will deliver.

• Be wary of signs on the road to call an 800 number or random door-to-door sales professionals coming to your home. A respectable company doesn’t have time for such tactics, as they’re too busy servicing customers.

• Always make sure the company is registered with the BBB. You should be able to easily find a business on the internet with reviews, years active, and a webpage. Very few businesses are not on the internet these days, and unless they’re an old mom and pop shop that’s been in the community for years, avoid them.

• All technicians should be licensed and insured to come into your home, and don’t be afraid to ask for this.

• Be wary of “free inspections,” as they often send unlicensed people to the home to inspect. They will “verify” evidence of severe issues like bedbugs or roaches, and they will insist that you deal with the matter right away. It’s not unlike some unscrupulous companies to plant dead bugs in your home trying to make a quick sale.

• Make sure you always read the contracts and the fine print and be cautious of those that won’t let you cancel. Self-renewing agreements are illegal in most states.

• If a technician does their job right, it’s doubtful you should ever need a second treatment, though there are some exceptions.

• One of the biggest scams in the pest control industry is bed bugs. This is often found in the major cities, as bedbugs are such an issue where there are more people. Being bit by a bedbug can increase your chances of a health issue, and it’s just all-out creepy to have them in your home. Do you want bugs in your bed?

Heat treatments will kill bedbugs if it’s above 140 degrees for up to two hours, but it must be done on the whole house. Some scammers set up some portable heaters in one area of the home, and the bugs do nothing but relocate to another room until the heat is gone.

This will not eradicate the issue, as they’re just scamming you. A whole house treatment system will not be accomplished with a few home heaters, as you need professional equipment. You don’t want to be right back to where you started from and be out the money spent, so stick with verifiable companies.

Source: www.si.edu

Final Thoughts on Quarterly Pest Conrol

Is quarterly pest control a must? No, you don’t have to have such services, and it’s not as if your home insurance or a bank likes things like that when trying to sell a home. You shouldn’t see a doctor a couple of times a year, or pressure wash your house in the spring either, as these all don’t have benefits, right?

There are tons of things in life that you use preventative measures because you know if you don’t, things are going to get worse. Pest control should fall into this category as it’s a vital way to prevent an infestation. While you may not like paying the bill every quarter, you will appreciate how much it saves you when you are pest-free.

Lastly, dealing with an infestation of roaches or bedbugs could easily cost way more than just taking the preventative route. It’s always better to be proactive and pay a little upfront than to be sorry and spend a lot more in the end. It’s just another way you can protect your home and those who live in it.

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