1.  DO-IT-YOURSELF PEST CONTROL Sprays, powders, and other products purchased off the shelf at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. can only hide your bug problems, while they get worse. Using these products can make household pests disappear from sight, but not from your house. Also, professional pest control service providers do have access to stronger materials than you do. “Do-it-yourself” may save you money in the short-term, but it will allow your problem to multiply and ultimately cost you more.   USING UNQUALIFIED PEST CONTROL SERVICE PROVIDERS           Make sure that the pest control company you use is certified by the Department of Agriculture and can show you documents to prove it—this Certification is EARNED, and cannot be bought. Further, consider issues such as number of years in business and experience, training, licensing and boding of technicians.   RELYING ON THE “BRAND NAME” OF A BIG NATIONAL COMPANY—ANDNOTREADING THE “FINE PRINT” ON THEIR CONTRACTS Refer to separate sheet, enclosed titled: FACTS ABOUT “BIG NAME” NATIONAL PEST CONTROL COMPANIES. Note: be very careful NOT to sign long-term or continuing service contracts not backed by straightforward guarantees you fully understand.   4.     NOT GETTING COMPLETE, THOROUGH, PROFESSIONAL PEST AND TERMITE INSPECTIONS FOR YOUR HOME. Texas is such a “bug area” it is simply dangerous to go without these inspections. We recommend getting these inspections once every year, or twice, then continuously as part of regular pest control service—but not that few companies automatically include continuous re-inspection in their service. FAILURE TO HAVE YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS PEST INFESTATIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE VERY COSTLY, EXTREME REMEDIES (SUCH AS STRUTURE DAMAGE FROM SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, FOR EXAMPLE). ...read more