When selecting a pest control company, there are a number of things to consider. For instance, many people seek out a pest control company when their problem has gotten out of control. In other cases, some people like to have a prevention program in place, a "just in case" assurance. As a pest professional, I agree with the homeowner who takes the first step early. In many cases, being on a yearly or seasonal program has some great benefits. For example, while you may not be aware of a brewing problem on your grounds, yet, a pest professional monitors your property with a series of visits, treatments and gives you suggestions throughout a given period. In other words, their eyes and skills are yours all year long. Catching a problem early can have great benefits for you too. Just think of how much peace of mind you can have knowing "your problem is covered". On the other hand, putting off a problem can become very costly. Many companies like these types of clients. Larger companies for instance love to charge a series of "fees" before even completing a single service. In some cases, these fees incorperate the cost of doing business in NJ, other fees are gimicks. Since they know that you may not have interest in a seasonal program, some company fees can seem more like penalties and in many cases, they are. However, many people with a pest problem are more concerned with getting rid of the problem pest , rather than the overall cost involved. It's important to understand any and all fees that you may be facing. Ask questions, shop around and avoid large scale companies. A common fee that you can expect to pay if you are a new customer is an "initial set-up fee". This fee includes the actual cost of setting up products (example: rodent bait stations) and paying the overhead cost of these products. These items do cost the pest company money up-front and time to set up. Therefore, your first visit is usually going to cost more than the follow-up service calls and visits. In other words, you are paying for for the merchandise before any service calls. This reassures the pest company that if you decide to cancel services, they do not get stuck paying for your products. This fee is the only fee worth of your hard earned money. A fee that you should keep a watchful eye on are "document fees". These fees are non-essential to pest control and yet, many companies continue to charge for them. Overall, when selecting a pest control company, we suggest you go with a small company. Keep in mind that large companies have large staff, more vehicles, higher insurance, more liability, more advertising costs and a high turn over rate. Consider the little guy who can give you the same product line, better service and usually do it without charging you more than he needs to. Lastly, remember this; the guy who owns the small business is more likely to build a relationship with you, work better with you and give you a personal service that you will not get with a large company. Overall, the little guy is happy to be working for himself and not just a paycheck or the 5 o'clock whistle on a Friday. Please consider BugThemOut.com for your pest control needs. We are small, but serve you in a big way. Cheers, Michael Gunderud, Owner (877)567-2847
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