What is the average cost for pest control service?

Maybe you’ve tried do-it-yourself pest control without success, maybe you’re dealing with an invasive species that has all of a sudden claimed your home as its own, maybe you just don’t have time to try home remedies – whatever the reason, there is certainly a lot to learn before you hire a professional contractor to handle your home or business’s pest control services. Perhaps the first and foremost question you will ask yourself concerns cost. And it’s certainly a strong aspect to ponder. So, what is the average cost for pest control service?

The short answer: it varies depending upon a number of factors.

According to HomeGuide.com the average cost for a pest control visit from a professional contractor was $170 as of January 2018, with a general range of $100 to $270. Meanwhile, HomeAdvisor.com says the average range for a single visit $108 to $260, with the national average at $173.

Those are fairly wide price ranges, but when you consider the wide ranges of pest control needs it makes sense.

And that’s why it is important to know your problem. Answer your pest control needs first and you will better be able to answer the question: what is the average cost for pest control service? For example, termite services will cost completely different amounts from cockroach or any eviction. And rodent extermination and eviction is different again. The key in determining these prices is to ask thorough and pointed questions of any prospective exterminator.

Also, if you are looking to sign a company to a yearly contract, one which includes periodic and consistent visits by the contractor, the prices range from:

• Every month: $40 to $45
• Every two months (semi-monthly): $50 to $60
• Every three months (quarterly): $100 to $300

There are also spatial questions to ask yourself. In other words, the bigger your house, generally, the more you will pay. For instance, pest control for a 3,000-square-foot house will cost more than it does for a 1,500-square-foot condo. And some exterminators even charge an extra $25 for every 1,000 square feet over 1,500.

The good news is that most pest control companies provide free, on-site quotes for their services.

As with any contractual situation, you should always seek bids from numerous companies before making your final decision – and not just for money. Obtaining a free quote will also allow you to determine a number of other factors about the prospective contractor, including: demeanor (are they friendly and courteous?), professionalism (do they look and act like they have done this before?) and rapport (do they treat you and your home/business with respect?).

You can also do key research on any prospective contractor by checking their website for accreditation and licenses. In the state of Georgia, companies should be certified by the Georgia Pest Control Association. They should also be a member of the National Pest Management Association.

Before signing any contract, you should also make sure that the company in question will not be looking to charge you at any and every opportunity. Re-treatments, for instance, should always be free and covered under the company’s service guarantee. And you should avoid any contractor that charges extra for same-day or next-day services.

It’s also a good idea to research any company’s history. In fact, the EPA even suggests you ask how long the contractor has been in business at its current address in order to determine their longevity and stability. Experience and staying power are always a sign of a strong company.

Also be sure to ask friends, neighbors and relatives if they have any experience with a particular contractor. Word of mouth references are worth their weight in gold.

Finally, it is always a good idea to ask to see a copy of the company’s pest control license. You should also ask about the pesticides/baits/repellants to be used in your home or business and ask how they will be applied. Any contractor worth its salt should be happy and forthright with that information. After all, you are paying for it.

It is not necessarily a quick procedure, though it should not be difficult, and it is one you should undertake as quick as possible. The reason why? Once pests infiltrate your home, the longer you allow them to settle in, the harder it is to get rid of them. That is because they are producing baby pests and spreading more problems around your property.

And know that, just because you see a few, dispose of them and then don’t see more for a few days, they are not necessarily gone. Insects and rodents have thrived alongside mankind for millennia largely because they have learned how to inhabit similar spaces without being seen very often.

And when left to their own devices, not only do they multiply (see below for more), but they can also spread disease or – especially in the case of carpenter ants or termites – inflict real, physical damage on your home

For example:

A single female mouse produces 5 to 10 litters per year, each made up of five-six young which are then able to reproduce on their own after just 30 days! That is how five or six mice can become 25 to 60 mice in no time.

When it comes to roaches, a female cockroach can produce four-eight egg capsules a lifetime. Each capsule includes 30 to 48 eggs in it for a reproduction rate of 120 to 384 eggs in a typical life span of 1 year. A roach reaches maturity in 40 to 125 days, so in a little over a month can produce an increase of almost 1,500 roaches – and that makes for 18,000 in a year!

If you hope to get pests like these under control you must sign up for regular visits from a professional contractor. Control and maintenance is key, because, especially in the case of cockroaches, you may never fully evict them.

So, while it may cost money for pest control services, it is a charge that is likely to pay itself off many times over – assuming you are thorough and analytical in your approach to signing a contract.