Top 3 Tips For Finding a Good Pest Control Company

There are lots of great pest and animal control companies out there. Unfortunately, there are also some not so good companies.

Top things to look out for when it comes to finding a good company to take care of your unwelcome animal guest(s) are:

1. Making sure they're registered with the Michigan DNR (or your local state authority)

2. Check to see if they have business insurance

3. Reasonable cost for the project

Each of these will be explained below.

1. Making sure they're registered with the Michigan DNR (or your local state authority)

To legally be able to be an animal control company in Michigan, it must be registered with the DNR. The DNR gives different permits for different types of animal trapping. What kind of permit depends on if you're a commercial business, whether you're using pesticides, and whether you're a home owner attempting to trap a nuisance animal on your property. Other states have similar permits and licensing procedures, as well.

These permits make sure that people are ethically handling animals and not using dangerous pesticides that could harm animals and humans. It further allows the DNR to track the animal activity and helps eliminate diseases such as rabies.

Next time you call an animal control company, make sure you ask them if they have a permit through the Michigan DNR to trap animals or use pesticides.

2. Check to see if they have business insurance

Business insurance is extremely important not only for the business owner but for the homeowners. Although it is extremely rare that a nuisance animal company could cause harm to your home, you don't want to risk it without them having insurance. Insurance helps cover any damages that happen to your home from the company doing work on it.

Most pest control companies just want to help you and fix your problem and repair your home. However, there are those out there that don't have the proper skill set to be doing repairs on your home. This could damage your home and lead to bigger costs for you as a homeowner/business owner (if the animal control company is treating your commercial building).

Make sure to check if they have business insurance that way you can have peace of mind while they're helping you get rid of your pest.

3. Cost

Inflated pricing is typically the biggest reason most homeowners complain about pest control companies. There are plenty of different ways companies charge their customers for their services (one of them is not better than the other, it's just whatever you're most comfortable with).

Companies can charge per service rendered. By this we mean, they charge (1) for the inspection, (2) to set and bait the traps, (3) for removal and disposal of any animal trapped (4) for the repair (5) and any other fees such as extra bait, extra traps, extra material for repairs, etc. This type of pricing looks something like this: (these prices are based on industry averages):

• Inspection: $125-175

• Set and bait the traps: $250-600 (depending on the problem and how many traps)

• Removal and disposal of any animal trapped: $50-200 (keep in mind this is even if they trap a squirrel by accident when they're trying to trap a raccoon)

• Repair: $200-600

• Any additional costs is on case by case basis

There are other companies that charge you for everything lumped into one price, or that charge you for the trapping, removal/disposal of animal in one price and a reasonable separate price for repairs. Remember, you can always use one company to trap and another company for repairs. This pricing looks something like this: (prices based on industry averages):

• Inspection, Set and bait the traps, removal and disposal of any animal trapped: $300-900 (industry average depending on the problem and how many traps)

• Repairs: $200-600 (depending on how many points of entry)

These are the top 3 tips for what to look for when finding a good animal control company. Hope this helps!

If you're having critter issues and are in the Michigan area, call us today at 248-729-6437!