Have ants invaded your home? Even though a do-it-yourself extermination option may seem like a cost-effective idea, this strategy may leave you with a lingering ant issue. Before you try a DIY approach, take a look at the why's and who's of effective professional ant control.
Why Do You Need to Hire a Pest Control Professional?
With so many DIY pest control products available to eliminate ant invasions, you may wonder why you should call a professional for help. Even though you could try to exterminate the insects yourself, the top reasons to hire a contractor include:
- Safety. Failure to use chemical pest control methods correctly could put you, your household members, your pets, or wildlife (if you use exterior control measures) at risk. A pest control contractor has the knowledge and experience to safely stop an ant invasion.
- Effectiveness. How effective are the ant traps at your local hardware or big box store? If you don't use the right bait, traps, or other control measures, your extermination efforts may not work.
- Re-infestation. The pest control professional won't just stop one invasion. Routine services can prevent a re-infestation before it starts.
Now that you know why you should hire a professional, it's time to take the next step and learn more about who you should contact for ant control.
Who Should You Hire for Pest Control?
You've decided to hire professional help to control the ant issue in or around your home. But you aren't sure where to start. Not all pest control contractors are equal. Before you choose one exterminator, consider:
- Experience. How many years has the contractor served the community as a pest control professional? While there's no magic number of years you should look for, make sure the contractor has a substantial amount of experience to back up their services.
- Specific experience. Experience in general pest control isn't always enough to stop an ant issue. Ask your would-be future contractor about specific expertise and experience exterminating ant colonies.
- Services. After you verify the exterminator's experience, ask the contractor about the services they provide. These may include ant inspections, an initial eradication, and ongoing pest control.
If you don't already have a pest control referral, ask friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors for recommendations. Those nearest and dearest to you can provide honest, realistic references. Again, the company you choose should have ant-specific expertise and experience. Ask your referral source if they've successfully used the contractor for ant services.
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