Any time you choose a contracted company to do work in your home, like pest control, you need to make sure to do your research before you actually hire them. Some of these companies are great and trustworthy companies while others might not be. So how do you weed out the good companies from the not-so-good?
One of the best things you can do is ask good questions. The answers you receive will be very helpful to you, but it will also be enlightening if a company avoids answering one of your questions. There are some essential questions that you shouldn’t skip asking the Kansas City pest control company before you hire them.
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1Is Your Kansas City Pest Control Company Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
One of the most important things you can ask a pest control company is whether they are licensed, bonded, and insured. You will want to ask about all three because if the company is insured but not bonded, it can affect your wallet and your experience with the company.
Here’s a breakdown of why your Kansas City pest control company needs to be licensed, bonded, and insured:
Licensed
Pest control treatments can be dangerous when used incorrectly which is why pest control companies are legally obligated to be licensed before they operate. The license indicates that the company does know what they’re doing and that they do it correctly and safely. If you ask a pest control company if they are licensed, and they avoid answering your question or are not licensed, then they are operating illegally and you should not hire them to treat your house.
Bonded
When a pest control company is bonded, it means that they are set up to protect you as their customer if they cause damage to your home. Instead of leaving you with damage and an awful bill taking money out of your wallet for something you didn’t do, you are protected financially. If a company is not bonded and causes accidental damage to your home, you may find yourself dealing with an unanticipated financial dilemma.
Insured
It’s easy to confuse being bonded with being insured. When a company is insured, it means that they are protected financially as well in the case of a lawsuit. They will be able to pay for what they need to during the lawsuit with the help of their insurance. This means they’d be able to pay you compensation without going out of business due to out of pocket expenses.
2Where Can I Find Customer Reviews of Your Business?
If you aren’t sure what your opinion is of a particular pest control company, you can request to see customer reviews for their business. They should be able to point you to several reviews or testimonials to help you determine whether you want to trust the company with treating your home.
Be cautious of companies that only give you a brochure with a couple of positive reviews on it. The reviews in the brochure might be helpful, but know that reviews in a brochure are handpicked because they put the company in a good light. Ask if they have any other places to see reviews of their business so you can have a more complete picture of their performance with other customers.
However, even though it is possible for a company to not be transparent, a lot of companies do want to be open with their reviews. And when a company is open with its reviews, you’ll have no problem using the reviews to decide if you want to hire the company or not.
3Do You Give Free Quotes For Your Services?
A good pest control company will be willing to give you an upfront quote before locking you into hiring them to treat your home. They’ll tell you what services they’ll be doing and how much each one will cost so nothing about the bill is a surprise to you.
If a company tries to push you to hire them without giving you a quote, don’t hire them. There’s a good chance that they will try to add on extra fees and costs to the overall price tag of their services without giving you a good explanation of what the fees are for or why you need to pay for them. It’s best to avoid the situation altogether and hire a company that does give you a quote instead.
4Are Your Pest Treatments Safe for Humans and Pets?
It can be hard to get all the information you want about pest treatments online. So when you’re considering a pest control company, ask them about their products. You’ll especially want to ask them about the safety of their products since the products will be placed in and around your home.
Many professional pest treatments are pet- and kid-friendly, but it’s always important to check with the pest control company first. In some cases, you may need to be away from home for a couple of hours while the treatment is applied and dries, and then it will be safe to return home. However, this varies based on treatment type.
It’s also a good idea to ask about the different types of treatments available from the company and how they determine which treatments to use for different pest problems. The more informed you are about the pest control company’s treatments, the better you’ll feel about letting them into your home.
5What Will You Do If My Pest Problem Continues After Your Pest Treatment?
Sometimes it takes more than one treatment to fix a pest problem. If the pest control company knows that it will take more than one treatment, they should tell you so upfront or at least warn you of the possibility so you can be prepared to schedule with them more than once.
However, if the pest problem should have been fixed with one treatment but continues to be a problem after the treatment is applied, then the company should have a plan in place to make things right. For example, they may offer to come and do another treatment for free because a second treatment might fix the problem. Or they may have some sort of warranty or guarantee to compensate you for a service that didn’t work.
There are plenty of questions you can ask a Kansas City pest control company, but when you want to make sure they deserve your business, make sure to ask these five questions without fail.
