Walk through the aisles of a hardware store or browse Amazon and you’ll see dozens, if not hundreds, of DIY pest solutions. Sprays, poison baits, sticky traps, and essential oils all promise to rid your house of spiders, rodents, and other pests. With all of these options, you may wonder if hiring a professional pest control technician is worth the expense.
For small infestations, you may be able to handle the issue yourself. However, if the pests manage to get a foothold in your home or yard, they can be devilishly difficult to remove without the proper professional know-how and equipment. In this article, we’ll cover the difference between DIY and professional pest control services and provide some tips on how to hire the right pest control provider for your home.
Benefits of a Professional Pest Control Service
In general, shelling out for professional pest management services costs more than doing it yourself—at least in the short term. However, if you don’t take care of your pest problem quickly, it can turn into a full-blown infestation. If this happens, you may end up spending more on DIY solutions than you would if you’d hired someone at the first signs of an infestation. Keep reading for a few benefits of professional pest control.
Professionals Have the Proper Equipment and Training
To get rid of an infestation, you may need specialty equipment and the knowledge to get rid of the pest you’re dealing with—things that most homeowners don’t have. Additionally, some pesticides may not be available to the general public, as they may require training and experience to use correctly. For example, professionals will know how to deploy insecticides and rodenticides without endangering you, your family, or your pets.
Not to mention, some pests, such as mosquitoes and ticks, can carry communicable diseases, and technicians will have the know-how and the proper safety equipment to deal with them.
Professionals Can Provide Proactive Pest Control Services
If you don’t have active pest problems, you may not be thinking about how to prevent future infestations. A professional pest control company will know how to treat your current problem and should be able to help you prevent potential pest issues in the future. For example, a professional can identify entry points around your home during an inspection and provide tips on how to seal these areas to prevent pests from entering your home.
Professionals Can Provide Peace of Mind
Simply put, if you hire a professional, you don’t have to worry about getting rid of pests yourself. You won’t have to apply and reapply pesticides, check and empty traps, or remove nests, saving you time and energy. Additionally, a professional that can take care of the problem quickly will greatly reduce the likelihood of your home or belongings sustaining any damage from pests.
DIY Pest Control vs. Professional Pest Control
Here’s how professional and DIY pest control compare on a number of factors.
| Factor | Professional | DIY |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Services are more expensive in the short term | Solutions are more affordable in the short term |
| Severity of infestation | Can treat all levels of severity | Best for small infestations |
| Time | Quicker and more efficient | May take longer to get rid of pests |
| Health and safety | A professional pest control service should have the proper training and liability insurance to protect you and your home | You’re responsible for the chemicals you use and any potential damage to your belongings or home’s structure |
| Preventative measures | Included in services | Optional |
How To Avoid Pest Control Scams
Before hiring a professional pest control company, consider these tips to help you weed out potential scam pest control services:
- Check the provider’s professional license and liability insurance. Make sure the technician who actually applies the treatment has an up-to-date certification.
- If something seems fishy, get a second opinion. Most trustworthy companies, such as Terminix and Orkin, will offer free inspections and free quotes for pest control services.
- If you sign up for seasonal services, read your contract carefully and make sure you understand what’s included in coverage.
- Read third-party customer reviews. Most reputable companies will have an active online and social media presence and respond to any complaints about their services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pest Control
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review pest control plans, navigate the provider website, speak with customer service representatives by phone and online chat (if available), request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plan options, additional benefits and convenience factors, availability, trustworthiness, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.