Pest Control
Dick Castello
Certified Pest Control Operator
562 Verbenia Court
Satellite Beach, FL 32937
(321) 779-4419
(321) 779-0390
Website
Steve Girouard
Pest Control
6055 N. Wickham Road, Suite 100
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 242-2203
(321) 242-7793
Website
Mario Ronda
Inspector
Pest Prevention · Termite Protection
272 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321) 757-6666
(321) 757-0979
Website
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How to Select Pest Control Services Wisely
Your first contact with a pest control company may be through a salesman. A salesman is sent to sell you pest control services. Selling unnecessary pest control services is prohibited by the pest control laws. However, homeowners must buy pest control services wisely.
The following steps should be taken by homeowners to buy wisely:
- Shop around for the best pest control service at a reasonable price.
- If you do not know how to recognize insect infestation or damage, ask the salesman to show it to you. He must have evidence to recommend treatment.
- Have the salesman certify in writing that the premise or structure is infested with a specific pest and that a treatment is required.
- You may confirm the salesman's diagnosis by sending evidence of the pest or damage he shows you to the Cooperative Extension Service office in your county. An unbiased opinion may insure the proper treatment.
- Get opinions from two or more pest control firms before deciding on expensive and extensive treatments.
- Read the proposed contracts carefully so you know exactly what the company will do and guarantee. Ask the salesman to interpret parts that you do not understand.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau to be certain the company has a clean record.
By following these procedures you are more likely to buy the pest control services you need and want.
Contracts for Wood-Destroying Organisms Control
A pest control company must give you a written contract for each wood-destroying organism control or preventive treatment. The contract should be furnished before the work has begun and before any payment is made and contain the following information:
- Name and address of property owner and address of property to be treated.
- All buildings or structures to be included for treatment.
- The complete name and address of the pest control firm.
- Date of agreement, duration of contract, and renewal option (if offered).
- Name of wood-destroying organisms covered by the contract.
- Whether treatment is recommended for control of existing infestation or prevention of infestation.
- Conditions under which the company will retreat in case of reinfestation.
- Conditions under which repairs will be made.
- Maximum price to be charged for treatment.
- Whether reinspections are to be made and, if so, how often, and how much they will cost.
- What renewal fees will cost.
- Maximum price for structural repairs, if any, shown separately.
- If guaranteed with a bond, what the obligations of the bond are; for instance, retreatments, repairs, etc.
Wood-destroying organisms do not destroy property overnight. Take your time to read the contract and compare services. For more information about wood-destroying organism control, write to:
State of Florida, Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control, Florida Div. of Agric. & Consumer Services, 644 Cesery Blvd., Suite 200, Jacksonville, Florida 32211 and ask for their free publication "Consumer Service Aid for the Homeowner and Buyer - Termites and other Wood-Infesting Pests".
What to Look for in the Delivery of Service
All company employees who come to your house reveal the professionalism of the firm. Look for the following:
- Is the vehicle in which they arrived dirty and messy? Is the vehicle plainly marked with the name of the company with whom you are dealing?
- While performing the job, are they considerate, courteous, and careful with your belongings?
- Do they replace items they moves to do the job?
- Are they organized or must they continually run to the truck for supplies?
If you are impressed with all the factors about the technicians, you have reason to believe they may be conscientious in his performance of pest control. However, all these are superficial and not alone a true indication of the effectiveness of the services they have rendered.
There are several direct indications of the quality of pest control services the company is delivering. Companies that are concerned about your safety will follow several basic rules. These are:
- Pesticides should never be diluted in your house. Pesticides should always be diluted in or at the service vehicle or at the company's business location. Any applicator who dilutes pesticide in your home is not using approved pest control practices.
- The technician should always leave his service equipment and pesticides in a locked vehicle or service compartment when not using them.
- Pesticides should be applied indoors with low pressure to prevent splashing and runoff. Any spills or puddles should be wiped up immediately by the technicians. They should come into your home with rags, etc., to wipe up accidental spills.
- Every time a spray is applied indoors, you should be told to keep pets and children away from surfaces until they are dry. The technician should also request that anyone suffering from allergies, heart ailments, or respiratory problems be kept out of the room during the application, or that application be delayed until such persons can be removed.
- Pesticides should never be applied to food products, utensils, or to surfaces that food will contact.
- Applicators should be prepared to protect caged pets by covering them and should shut off air pumps in fish tanks. If cages are removed from rooms, they should check them to make sure they are free of pests.
- The technician should never apply waterbased pesticides to electrical equipment.
- You should be warned to keep children and pets off lawns until the chemical has dried.
- Poison baits should be placed where children or pets cannot get to them.
- The technician should point out any damage present before spraying, such as stains, burns, etc., so you will not think spraying caused the problem.
- Technicians should never give or sell pesticides to customers. Never ask the technician to give you a pesticide.
- Children's toys, mattresses, and bedding should never be sprayed with pesticides.
source: Florida Extension Service
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