Before you hire a pest control company: the questions that separate careful from careless

Six questions that tell you who to hire

Before you hire a pest control company in Texas, ask six things: whether the company and its technicians are licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, whether they inspect before they quote, what product they plan to use and why, how they adjust for children, pets and health conditions, what their guarantee covers, and whether they carry insurance. A good company answers each of those plainly and specifically. Vague answers, a price over the phone and pressure to sign today are the signs to keep looking.

We at Eco-Safe Pest Control have answered these questions for homeowners since 1962, when my grandmother Phoebe started the termite company that is still our termite division. Below is what each question uncovers, what a good answer sounds like, and the red flags that should end the conversation.

Is the company licensed in Texas, and is the technician?

In Texas, structural pest control is regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture through its Structural Pest Control Service. The department states plainly that licenses are required for anyone who is in the business of pest control, and it inspects licensed businesses and investigates complaints under the Structural Pest Control Act. Ask for the company's license and ask whether the person coming to your home is licensed as well.

The EPA's consumer fact sheet on choosing a pest control company makes the same point: make sure the license is current, and contact your state pesticide agency about its certification and training programs. Every technician we send is state-certified, and together they bring a combined 300-plus years of experience. If a company hesitates when you ask about licensing, you have your answer.

Will someone inspect before giving me a price?

A company that quotes over the phone has not seen your house, so it does not know where the pests are coming from or why. The EPA fact sheet says any company, including those advertising themselves as green, should inspect your premises and outline a recommended control program. According to the EPA, that program should cover the following:

An inspection also shows you how the company thinks. A careful technician walks the outside of the house as well as the inside, looks at the foundation, the attic and the plumbing under the sinks, and tells you what is attracting the pests, not only what to spray. If the person who comes out never asks a question and heads straight for the baseboards with a sprayer, you are paying for a routine, not a diagnosis. Our inspections are free, so there is no reason to accept a quote that skips this step.

• The pests to be controlled and the extent of the problem
• The active ingredient in the pesticide chosen
• Potential health effects associated with that ingredient
• The form of the product and how it will be applied
• Nonchemical alternatives that are available
• Special instructions to reduce your exposure, such as removing pets
• Steps to minimize pest problems in the future

What will you apply, and where will it go?

This is the question most homeowners skip and the one that matters most if you have a toddler, a dog or someone with asthma in the house. Ask what product the company plans to use, why it suits your pest, and where it will be placed. The EPA suggests asking the company to use the least toxic method available that will do the job, and to show you the product label or safety data sheet, which lists the precautionary warnings.

Also ask whether anyone will need to leave the house, for how long, and what you should do with pet bowls, toys and food. A company that has thought about those questions in advance will answer them without looking anything up. A company that tells you everything it uses is perfectly safe, without naming the product, has not really answered you.

Listen for a specific answer. At our first visit, we ask about children, pets, allergies, respiratory issues and pregnancy before choosing anything, and the answers change what we use. Our general treatments use natural organic means unless a different strategy is requested, and we use our own products in almost all services. The way we balance gentleness and results is explained in pest control when you have kids, pets or allergies.

What does the guarantee cover, and what would void it?

The EPA fact sheet advises being skeptical of a company that does not guarantee its work, and it also says to find out what you must do to keep your side of the bargain. Its example is termite work: a guarantee may become invalid if you make structural changes to the home without telling the pest control company first. Ask that question directly, and get the answer in writing.

Ask how long coverage lasts after the first visit and what happens if the pests come back in between. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, our Initial Service on a general program is backed by 90 days of coverage, and our service agreements may be canceled at any time without penalty. You should not have to sign a long contract to get a company to stand behind its work.

Can they prove insurance, and what do past customers say?

The EPA recommends asking whether the company carries insurance and whether the salesperson can show proof on paper. General liability coverage gives you some protection if something goes wrong during an application in your home. The fact sheet also notes that most states do not require pest control companies to carry insurance, which is exactly why it is worth asking.

For track record, the EPA's advice is not to rely on the salesperson. Ask neighbors and friends who have used the company, and check with your state pesticide agency for complaints. When you read online reviews, look past the star rating to the details: do people name their technician, describe what was explained to them, and mention fair, transparent pricing? Those details are harder to fake than a number.

Which certifications are worth asking about?

A state license is the minimum. Beyond that, a certification or professional association tells you the company has agreed to standards it is not legally required to meet. The EPA fact sheet notes that professional associations keep members informed on methods, safety, training and regulations, and that members agree to a code of ethics.

We are QualityPro certified, a credential that, as we understand it, only about 3% of pest control companies in North America hold. We are also certified by the Texas Organic Research Center, which matters if you are specifically looking for natural and organic methods. My father Michael, who founded Eco-Safe, is a board-certified entomologist. Ask any company what its credentials require of it, not only what they are called.

Red flags that should end the conversation

Some answers tell you to keep looking no matter how good the price sounds. The EPA notes that wise consumers get bids from two or three companies and look at value more than price, and that what appears to be a bargain may warrant a second look. Here are the warning signs I would not ignore:

None of these means a company is dishonest, but each one means you are being asked to trust something you have not been shown. A good company is comfortable being checked, and it will give you the same answers in writing that it gave you on the phone.

• A firm price over the phone with no inspection
• No clear answer about which product will be used or where
• The same treatment for every house, regardless of who lives there
• Hesitation when you ask for a license number or proof of insurance
• A long-term contract required before anyone has seen the problem
• Pressure to decide today, especially from an unannounced visit
• No mention of fixing the cause, such as leaks, gaps or debris

Your part after you choose

Hiring a company does not end your involvement. The EPA reminds homeowners to evaluate the results and, if something seems wrong with an application, to contact the company or the state pesticide agency. Keep a note of what was applied and when, watch whether the activity drops over the following weeks, and speak up early if it does not. If you see more activity in the first few days, ask the technician whether that is expected for the treatment used; with some methods, insects become more visible before they decline.

The best results come from a partnership. We handle the inspection, treatment and sealing, and you handle the leaking faucet, the mulch against the foundation and the boxes stacked in the garage. If you are still weighing how gentle methods compare with conventional ones, read what natural pest control can and cannot do.

How we answer these questions when you call

When you request an inspection, a state-certified technician comes to the property, inspects inside and out, and asks who lives in the home before recommending anything. You get a plain explanation of the pest, the cause, the product and where it will go, and a price before anything is applied. If you want to compare us against other companies, use this list with all of them; we would rather earn the job on clear answers.

We serve homes and businesses across Dallas and the surrounding Metroplex. For a sense of how a price is built before you start calling, see what drives the cost of pest control.

Questions people ask me