Quarterly pest control is the best way to prevent an infestation before it happens. Read here to learn how quarterly pest control services may be right for you.
An infestation of pests is the last thing any Jackson, Mississippi homeowner wants to face. Pest control and prevention should be a top priority for homeowners, but many don’t believe they’ll fall victim to an infestation.
Unfortunately, statistics prove pest problems are significantly more common than we’d like to think.
In a recent study, 179 bed bug infestations were reported throughout the state of Mississippi. Localized areas saw significantly higher reports than the rest of the state.
Another report showed that eastern subterranean termites and Formosan termites were found in most of Mississippi’s 82 counties. The worse news? The termites seem to be steadily spreading to other counties.
The best way to avoid becoming victim to bed bugs, termites, or other Mississippi pests is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. That’s why many homeowners are turning to quarterly pest prevention services to protect their homes.
But what is quarterly pest prevention services? Why you may need it, and how can it protect your home? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know.
What Is Quarterly Pest Control? Is It Just a Gimmick?
Quarterly pest prevention is a contract service where an exterminator comes to your home on a regular schedule. “Quarterly” means four times a year, or approximately every three months.
If this seems like too much or too little for your home, most companies offer other contracted service schedules. Monthly and bimonthly are standard options for homes prone to pests. Twice a year is a common option for households who rarely have problems with pests.
The exact service schedules available will vary from one company to the next. Be sure to ask about your options before hiring a company to make sure they offer a plan to suit your needs.
What Happens During a Scheduled Pest Control Service?
Most homeowners have hired an emergency one-time pest control service. These services are aimed towards a specific issue and rarely include protection against other problems. A scheduled pest control service is different.
Scheduled pest control services are mostly aimed at prevention. The first thing an exterminator will do is ask if you’ve noticed any bugs or other pests. If you’ve seen more spiders in your home or rat droppings in your attic, now is the time to mention it.
After speaking with you, the exterminator will inspect your home for signs of infestations. If any are found, they’ll be dealt with immediately.
The last step in a scheduled service is to create a barrier to protect your home from infestations between visits. The exterminator will spray your interior and exterior perimeter to keep bugs away.
What Pests Are Commonly Found in Mississippi Homes?
Many household pests can find their home in Mississippi homes. A few of the most common include:
- Asian lady beetles
- Cockroaches
- Rats and mice
- Houseflies
- Wasps, Bees, and Yellow Jackets
- Brown Recluse spiders
- Black widow spiders
- Termites
- Clothes moths
- Carpet beetles
- Fleas and ticks
- Bed Bugs
- Flour beetles
- Argentine ants
- Odorous house ants
- Mosquitoes
This is far from an all-inclusive list. It does, however, represent the pests you’re most likely to find in your home. Depending on your home’s exact area, other species of bugs or rodents may present a significant problem.
What Are the Benefits of Regularly Scheduled Pest Control Services?
There are many benefits of using regularly scheduled pest control for your Jackson, MS home. Below, learn the most significant benefits.
Peace of Mind
Noticing bugs or rodents in your home can feel overwhelming. When you have a professional service, you’re significantly less likely to have pest issues. Not only that, but you have a professional exterminator a phone call away if you do.
Automatic Scheduling Means Regular Pest Control
To ensure your home is treated as often as you want it to be, most pest control companies use automatic scheduling. With automatic scheduling, you don’t have to remember to make an appointment. The company takes care of it for you, well in advance.
Since a one-time pest control service is usually an emergency visit with additional fees, it can end up hurting your finances. Emergencies are challenging to plan for, even when you have a special fund for them. Scheduling pest prevention appointments means you can budget for them. You’ll know the exact costs of your service and when they need to be paid. No more pest-related emergency costs!
Contract or no contract? Some pest companies will require a customer to sign an annual contract for regular pest prevention services while others don’t. Our advice: Talk to several companies and choose the one which can best fit you and your family’s needs. Long-term contracts aren’t mandatory.
Our mission at Synergy² is to exceed each customers’ expectations on every visit. As a result, we do not lock customers into long term contracts. If we do our job correctly, we can develop long-term mutually beneficial relationships with our customers without the need for contracts.
Prevents More Serious Pest Issues
Exterminator companies are trained in the best ways to treat a variety of pests. Spiders, rats, and roaches will all require different treatment methods. Going it alone can be confusing and end up being ineffective if you choose the wrong treatment.
Professional services ensure your pest problem will be taken care of in the most effective way. In most cases, pests can be entirely eradicated in a single treatment. Even the most severe pest infestations will only take a few treatments.
Quarterly pest prevention services go a step beyond the usual benefits of professional pest control. In addition to the treatment at each pest prevention service, your pest specialist should be carefully inspecting your home for signs of additional and costly infestations.
Since you’ll have regular treatments throughout the year, your home is significantly less likely to experience pest issues. Many bugs or rodents you’d typically encounter in your home or area will quickly become a thing of the past.
Professional Pest Control Is Safer
Do-it-yourself pest control methods come with a lot of questions.
Are the chemicals used safe around pets or young children who spend a lot of time on the floor? Is it safe for interior use for someone with breathing problems? Can it be used near water sources like wells or private ponds?
Exterminators are trained on how and when to use chemicals safely. They can answer the questions above and address any other concerns you may have.
When voicing your concerns, you may be surprised at the alternatives an exterminator can offer. Having your questions answered by a professional offers you security. You’ll know your family and property are safer because chemicals are being used appropriately.
Your Home Will Stay Healthier
Many homeowners fail to realize the dangers pests present. You know termites can cause structural damage to your home, but did you know rats spread diseases like the black plague? Or that fleas and ticks can spread life-threatening illnesses to your family and cause severe complications like anemia in your pets?
There’s also the issue of poisonous or venomous pests that can harm your family through bites. One of the most common of these is spiders, which can be found in many homes. We can’t leave out filth flies and cockroaches. Each are responsible for the transmission to humans of diseases such as: Typhoid, Cholera, Salmonella, Dysentary, and Gastroenteritis.
By routinely having an exterminator create a barrier around your home, you create a healthier environment for your family and pets. Keeping out pests goes far beyond an annoyance or even a structural issue. It’s a matter of protecting those you love most.
Warranty for Pest Problems Between Visits
Depending on whether or not you have a contract in place, pest control companies may offer some type of warranty. These normally cover any general pest issues that arise between scheduled visits; however, exclusions may include pests such as fleas & ticks, termites, and bed bugs.
Sometimes these issues are covered free of charge. Other times, solving problems between visits are offered at a discount. Make sure you ask about a warranty, and if available, how it helps you with pest outbreaks between visits.
At Synergy² we do not lock customers into long-term agreements. We are a no-contract, earn-your-business-on-every-visit type of company. For customers needing a higher level of pest prevention service than quarterly pest, Synergy² offers bi-monthly pest prevention that includes callbacks at no charge for covered pests.
How to Choose a Pest Control Company
Quarterly pest control is essential, but homeowners should be wary of hiring just any company. Unfortunately, there are numerous pest control company scams that target unsuspecting homeowners. Finding a reputable company is of utmost importance.
Check out how to avoid pesky door-to-door salesman below. Did you know “free” pest inspections may not really be free? A pest company has to recoup its costs some way for providing this type of inspection. Carefully review the quote provided to you following a “free” inspection to insure additional costs aren’t being passed on to you. If it says “free”, it should really be “free”.
But how can you be sure you hire a reputable company? The tips below can help.
Verify Licensing
Before allowing anyone claiming to be an exterminator into your home, verify their licensing. Both the exterminator themselves and the pest control company should be licensed to work in your area. A professional will have no issues providing you their licensing information.
On the other hand, a scam artist may become defensive and refuse to provide you with this information. Consider this a major red flag. Avoid any exterminator or pest control company who refuses to prove licensing at all costs.
Read the Fine Print Before Signing Any Contract
Before you sign a contract, make sure you read the fine print. A few things to look out for:
- Permanent services that don’t allow you to cancel if desired
- Hidden fees
- Lack of any warranty
- Rising rates after a certain period
If you notice anything that looks suspicious in your quarterly pest control contract, be sure to mention it. If you don’t feel comfortable with the contract’s fine print, don’t sign it. Choose a company that’s more transparent instead or choose a company like Synergy² with no-contract pest prevention services.
Look for Transparent Pricing
Transparent pricing is essential if you don’t want to pay way more than your original quote. Usually, a quarterly pest control contract offers fixed pricing.
If certain things cost extra, it should be brought to your attention ahead of time. If those things come up during your contract, a professional will tell you before they move forward. You should have the right to deny services that cost extra.
Avoid Door-to-Door Salesmen
A reputable pest control company shouldn’t be sending out door-to-door salesmen. If someone is coming to your door offering “free inspections,” be wary.
In a best-case scenario, this company will tell you a problem exists when it doesn’t. Common issues brought up by these scam companies are rats and bed bugs. They’ll offer to treat these problems when they didn’t exist in the first place.
Worst case scenario, these scam exterminators are casing your home for a future robbery. Unfortunately, this is a problem that has arisen in the past.
By allowing these scam artists into your home, you’re allowing them to map out your home’s layout. They’ll also be able to see any security measures you have set up. Once they know these things, a burglary is significantly easier to pull off.
Ask for Recommendations
Do you know someone who has used a pest control company in the past or currently uses one? Chances are high you do.
Ask friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors if they’ve used a company. Would they recommend them? Why or why not?
Check Online Review Sites
Many websites allow previous or current customers to rate a company and leave a detailed review. Before hiring any company, check these online review sites to see what other people are saying about their services.
Knowing how others were treated is an excellent indicator of how you will be. If most ratings are positive, you can feel confident in hiring a pest control company. If most ratings are negative, this is a red flag you don’t want to work with them.
Online review sites which may be helpful to you in selecting the best pest control service to fit your needs include: Google, HomeAdvisor, Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List, and Three Best Rated.
Contract or No Contract?
Some companies allow you to use quarterly pest control without a month-to-month or quarter-to-quarter contract. Others require a contract for service. Consider which one best works for you, as well as which will provide you the most cost savings.
Cost of Service
It’s not only transparent pricing you’ll want to look for, but also how much services cost overall. Keep in mind the cheapest company isn’t always the best. You want to look for a qualified company who meets all other requirements before comparing prices.
Application of Insecticides Inside and Out
You may want to find a company that will apply insecticides both inside and out. The interior application will help kill any pests already found in your home and creates a secondary barrier. The exterior application will help prevent pests before they enter your home.
Do You Have More Questions About Quarterly Pest Prevention Services?
Quarterly pest prevention services are regularly scheduled appointments that protect your home from bug and rodent infestations. No matter where you live, you can benefit from these services. Professional pest control is safer, more effective, and better for your budget.
Do you have more questions about quarterly pest prevention services? Or would you like a consultation about scheduling routine pest control for your home?
If need pest control services for your Jackson, MS home or business please visit our site at https://synergy2ms.com. Feel free to read more about us and decide if Synergy² is the right company for you. We have over 250 Five-Star Google reviews for pest control service in the Jackson metro area (Jackson/Madison/Brandon/Ridgeland). Check out our newest location reviews for pest control service in Jackson, MS here!