We often tend to avoid calling a pest control expert and try to curb the pest problems on our own without much success. This is due to a peculiar psychology of ours that hiring an agency for pest control in India involves a lot of hassles. Some time due to fear of chemicals and at other times we think pest control may cost a lot of money. And therefore, unless the pest problem is severe we try to avoid calling pest control experts for pest removal services in India.
But trust me, one should not ignore pests and bugs because they could create bigger issues and it could even turn into a major threat to your health and property if you keep avoiding the pest infestation for long. Concept of residential pest control in India is not new, especially in major cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and other mega cities. It’s even known in remote villages, but not for residential pest control, they rather do it to protect their crops in their field and backyard gardens.
Pest control services are widely available in India and you can find sign board and wall painting where these pest control agencies advertise their services. But as I said, they are easily available, but still one has to just double check certain things before booking an agency for pest control in India. In this post, I am going to give you a good overview of what to do and how to pick a pest control company in India for pest removal services at home, workplace or factories.
So are you ready?
Let me give you a little overview of what to expect from an agency.
What to expect from a pest control company in India?
A reputed pest control company in India will deal with the pest problem in a professional and proactive manner such that the pest infestation can be resolved effectively. Pest control companies have state of the art equipments and they use certified pesticides (chemicals or herbal pesticides) that not only drive the pests out but also ensure that the surrounding environment is not getting polluted due to the pesticides used. All of the equipments they use are environment friendly and do not have any effect on humans, or even if a little effect is there, they ensure all the safety protocols are maintained while they are operating on the pest infestation.
They can help you with most of the pest and bug related issues, such as;
Cockroach control
Termite treatments
Bed bugs removal
Rodent control
Ants removal
Mosquito and flies control
Rats and bird trapping
Snake catching and much more
How to search for pest control companies in India?
To get hold of a proper pest control service in India you can search about them on internet or you can randomly call them by taking their numbers from various free classified portals or service directory listings. Although like any other service, you can try asking your friends or relatives how they have arranged for pest control service when they have experienced similar pest problems. If all else fails then you can drop your pest problem here with your initials and contact details. Within minutes you will get calls from a couple of pest control companies available in your area/city, who will give you competitive rates for pest removal services. This will not only reduce your headache of calling them time and again, but also help you to compare the services of multiple pest control agencies in order to strike the best deal.
Obviously, today we are living in the era of social media and so you can look for them on facebook, google plus, twitter and on linkedin.
How to evaluate pest control companies before booking?
There are a lot of factors, which determines whether a particular pest control company will be credible enough to solve your pest problem or not. Here are a few things you should check and ask for.
Company license
Check whether the company has the proper industry licence & certifications or not. Contact your “state pesticide regulatory agency” to ensure the pest control agencies licence is current (although its requirement depends on state wise).
Damage control and insurance
Check with them if the company reimburses you in case of any loss or damage caused by the employee during the treatment of pests at your residence.
Most contractors carry general liability insurance, in case of any untoward incident or accidental pollution they should provide a proper insurance. Their insurance ensures certain degree of legal protection to you if any accident occurs while pesticides are being applied at your home. Contractors may also carry workmen’s compensation insurance, which can legally cover you in case any of their employees are injured while working at your apartment, house or garden. Although many states do not require pest control companies to buy insurance, but you should still think twice before hiring a company that is not insured.
Does the company have a good track record?
Check for the track record of the pest control company you are planning to hire. Although don’t end up asking this question to the company sales person. The best ways to find it out is by calling your State Pesticide Regulatory Agency and find out whether they have received complaints about this company or not. Ask them for any reference of past work, people with whom they have worked with, any testimonials they have received etc.
Are the certified and affiliated with regulatory bodies?
Professional associations such as IPCA, PCAI, etc keep their members informed of new developments in pest control standards, safety protocols, training, research, and regulations. Members agree to honor a code of ethics by getting affiliation from such associations. If a company, small or large, opts to join a professional association, employs that they are concerned about the quality and assurance standards of the services from their behalf.
Ask about the safety measures
How they are going to ensure the safety of your family and the environment while performing the treatment? Your safety concerns should be their first priority and it should reflect in the choice of pesticides they use. These concerns may include allergies, sensitivities, age of occupants (infants or elderly), resident pets etc.
You should get quotes from atleast two or three companies and give more value to quality over price. If an offer apparently look like a lucrative deal, it might not be good for the point of safety measures. Ask the pest control company to use least toxic chemical methods possible that will ensure the above precautionary measures. If you want to be surer then you must check the label which displays the precautionary warnings in the pesticides they are going to use.
If you sense that something has gone wrong with the pesticide application, immediately contact the company. Be an aware and responsible consumer, and do keep asking questions until your pests are removed or under control.
Does the company guarantee its work?
Try staying away from those companies that does not guarantee its work. Don’t just agree to their terms just because they are giving you a lesser quote. If there is no guarantee then your whole investment might go in vain. For instance, you want rodent control treatment at your residence; the company’s guarantee may become invalid if you make structural alterations to your home without giving prior notice to the pest control company. The company may require that you pay for annual inspections subsequent to the initial treatment to keep the guarantee valid.
What preparations you should be doing?
Any company, including those promoting themselves as “green, or environment friendly” should inspect your premises and outline a recommended control program. Start discussing the basic things with the pest control agency, like:
The particular pests they have to deal with
Extent of the infestation
What are the active ingredient(s) in the pesticide chosen by the pest control agency?
Potential adverse health effects, allergies or any side effect that might result because of the presence of any active ingredient in the pesticide used by the pest control agency.
The pesticide form (solid, liquid or gas) and application techniques (like fumigation).
Special safety guidelines that you should maintain to reduce your exposure to the pesticide (such as evacuating the house, transferring your pets, emptying the cupboards etc)
Ask them for suggestions regarding permanent solutions to your pest problems.
Post pest control activities
Ask your pest control agency that what are their plans after they treat the pest problem, like how are they going to clean the dead bodies of the pests from your floor or walls. Otherwise you might again have to hire a house cleaning agency to deal with it.
Over to you
For properly searching, hiring and dealing with a professional pest control company in India, you should stick to the guidelines I have mentioned above and you will do just fine. If you have something else in mind, feel free to add.
Have you found a proper pest control company for treating your pest problem?
