How Much Does Pest Control Cost

If only pests do not invade our living spaces, they won't be people's number one enemies. However, as insects and rodents find more and more opportunities to live where human beings are, they become more and more of a problem these days. Some simply destroy properties while other pests can introduce diseases to humans. Hence, people must give attention to pest control. This article will discuss the cost of pest control these days.

The Cost Of Pest Control

The typical cost of pest control runs from $50 to $1,000.

This estimate refers to hiring a professional pest control company to deal with pest extermination in a property. The pest control specialist will inspect the area and evaluate the pests first, set up plans for removal, exterminate the pests, and clean up the area afterwards.

Factors Affecting The Cost Of Pest Control

Pest. The cost of pest control usually varies from one pest to another. Insects are usually the least expensive pests to control. A pest control company will work to visit your property and spray for insects for around $50 to $300 only. This refers to pest treatment for insects such as roaches, spiders, crickets, earwigs, bed bugs, and the like. Rodents, on the other hand, like rats and mice are more expensive to control. They usually cost around $200 to $2,000 to exterminate. Bat control is around $300 to $1,500 while snake removal is $100 to $600. Basically, the harder the pest is to control, the more expensive its extermination cost becomes.

Danger. Some pests are more dangerous to deal with. For instance, some wasps and bees sting when aggravated. Hence, they are usually more expensive to control. The more risks are there for the pest control specialist, the higher the cost of the service goes.

Number of pests. The size of the population of the pest will also determine pest control prices. Of course, the bigger the population is, the harder the pests will be to control and so the cost of the service will be higher.

Level of infestation. If the pests have brought a lot of damage to your property already, expect that the cost of pest control will go higher. This is true because a lot of work is required in the part of the pest control specialist especially when speaking of damage repair.

Number of treatments. Some pests require not just one treatment but basically three to four times a year. Some pests like ants, for instance, may require regular maintenance. Hence, expect the cost of pest control not to only be a one-time deal but a continuous service to invest your money on.

Access. Some pests may be easy to access while others may be actually hard to reach. The latter is true for pests living in high areas or deep into the walls of a building. It requires more effort in the part of the specialist to deal with pests that are harder to access. Hence, you can expect the service to cost higher.

Distance. Most pest control companies charge you for their travel time and expenses. Hence, the farther your property is from the pest control company’s office, expect that the cost of the service will be a little bit higher.

Company. The level of expertise and the quality of service being offered by a pest control company can also affect prices. The same is true for factors such as local competitions and geographical location.

DIY. Some pests can be controlled in a DIY manner. There are a lot of over-the-counter pesticides that can be used for purposes like this. DIY pest control is usually a lot cheaper as compared to hiring professionals to do the job. The cost often starts at less than $20 and do not go more than $300 most of the time.

Cost Of Pest Control Per Type Of Service

It is already known to you that pest control service prices vary depending on the type of pest in question. Check out these estimated prices for various pest control services:

  • General insects like roaches, crickets, etc. ($50 to $300)
  • Ants ($300 to $700)
  • Termites ($1,000 to $3,000)
  • Bed bugs ($200 to $1,000)
  • Fleas ($100 to $300)
  • Bees or wasps ($100 to $700)
  • Bats ($300 to $1,500)
  • Mice or rats ($100 to $1,000)
  • Snakes ($100 to $600)
  • Squirrels ($300 to $1,500)
  • Moles or gophers ($50 to $500) .

Additional Costs

Repair may be an extra cost for you when speaking of pest control services. This is true, however, only if the company do not cover damage repair in their service.

Retreatment can also be called for, especially when there is a big chance of re-infestation. Additional treatment services will be an extra cost for you, especially if the need for retreatment is already beyond the coverage of the guarantee offered by the pest control company that did the initial treatment.

Tips Before You Decide To Get Rid Of Pests

Know what your problem pests are. Take note that it is important that you know what the real problem is so you can get the right pest control service for your needs. Understand that not all pest control companies may be able to help you. For instance, some pest control companies only deal with insects and not small animals such as rodents and snakes. Hence, knowing the pests you have to deal with can be your first wise step towards succeeding in pest control.

Find pest control companies that have experience and expertise in the kind of pests you are dealing with. Do your own research in terms of the history of a particular company, the kind of equipment they are using, and the like. You may ask for references and contact previous customers to find their satisfaction rate. You may also want to ask friends and relatives for recommendations.

When you have hired a pest control company before to deal with rats and you are satisfied with their service, for instance, it does not always mean they can do just as well in controlling other pests such as ants, bats,  and the like. Always take note of the expertise and experience of a company before even hiring them.

Make sure that the pest control company of your choice is licensed in your state and properly insured.

Only deal with a pest control company that will offer you sufficient guarantee for their services. At times, re-infestation is possible and so getting a good guarantee can protect you from a lot more expenses in the long run.

Get a written contract from the pest control company of your choice. Ensure that the contract is detailed especially when speaking of pricing, service inclusions, methods of treatment to be utilized, payment terms and guarantees.

If you have different pests to deal with at home, get the services from one pest control company only. You’ll likely get better discounts for the service and better guarantees as well.

If you are planning to get the job done in a DIY manner, make sure you are knowledgeable regarding all aspects of the job. Take note that you can easily purchase and use pesticides but in the end, you may end up failing in the task simply because you do not know every measure to keep the pests out of your home. If you think you cannot handle pests, seek the help of professionals right away. Even if their services are expensive, at least you can be certain of good results in the end.

Essex Pest Control, Billericay. Photo by sludgegulper

DIY Pest Control Tips Without Pesticides

For those who want to prevent and get rid of pests without having pesticides in a DIY manner, here are some things you have to keep in mind:

Moisture attracts pests. Therefore, remove moisture to prevent and get rid of pests.

  • clean gutters and downspouts
  • repair leaky faucets, pipes, roofs, and appliances
  • eliminate standing water in outdoor containers
  • lead water away from the house
  • make sure that the home's crawlspaces have vapor barriers and vents

Seal entry points to keep the pests away.

  • screen and seal windows, vents, and doors
  • seal cracks in the foundation
  • seal gaps in the entry points of utility lines
  • paint, stain, and seal exterior wood
  • seal items in plastic and not cardboard

Maintain a clean home to not encourage pests.

  • tightly seal trash containers and keep them clean as well
  • store foods in sealed containers
  • clean clutter and junk both indoors and outdoors
  • vacuum regularly
  • clean dog/cat food all the time

Prevent pests from infesting your home by making your property unattractive to them.

  • do not allow wood to contact the ground
  • practice using rock or gravel instead of wood mulch in your landscape
  • keep woodpiles away from your house
  • keep plants trimmed all the time
  • use yellow bug lights for outdoor lighting

Get rid of pests using simple mechanical operations.

  • consider using snap traps for rats and mice
  • use light traps for flies indoors
  • use flypaper or swatters for flies
  • vacuum beetles, fleas, spiders, and other insects in your property
  • use sticky traps to control insects and spiders