I'm going to say something that might surprise you coming from a pest control operator: most pest treatments are temporary. If the underlying conditions aren't addressed, the pests come back. Your exterminator knows this. Most of them won't say it because repeat business is how they keep the lights on.
I run a different kind of operation.
1. The pests are a symptom, not the problem.
Roaches don't appear from nothing. Rodents don't pick your house at random. There's always a reason — a moisture source, a food supply, an entry point, a harborage area. Find and eliminate those, and the extermination becomes much more effective and longer-lasting. Skip that step, and you're just managing a recurring invoice.
2. You probably have more entry points than you think.
Mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime. Cockroaches can slip through gaps you'd never notice. I find gaps in foundations, around pipe penetrations, behind appliances, inside utility chases. Standard operators don't spend time on this. I do, because I'd rather solve the problem once.
3. What they're spraying might not be the right product.
Not all pesticides work on all pests. Some operators use the same product on everything because it's what they have on the truck. Product selection matters. Application method matters. Timing matters. I'm not going to insult you by pretending otherwise.
4. Your crawl space is worth checking.
I've found things in crawl spaces that I don't discuss in public forums. Pests, yes. But also moisture damage, structural issues, abandoned... materials. I always check the crawl space. Always. I'm not going to tell you why it became a personal rule, but it became a personal rule in 1991 and it's served me well.
5. Cash is accepted and preferred.
This isn't a legal matter. It's a preference. I find that cash transactions lead to simpler, more direct professional relationships. I keep records. I'm licensed. I pay my taxes. I simply prefer not to involve certain financial intermediaries in my business operations. No further comment.
— D. Gribble
About the Author
Dave Gribble has been in the pest control business since 1992. He lives in Texas. He works alone, by preference. He does not have social media accounts, which he considers a security feature.