If you find yourself debating between hiring a pest control company in New York City or tackling the job on your own, there are several factors that you should consider. You should assess the severity of the infestation, be realistic about the time you can allocate and most importantly, consider your level of experience in dealing with such situations.
In many instances, you should seek advice from a professional, especially if you are dealing with a large or persistent infestation or if you have already had difficulties controlling the issue yourself. Pest control experts can offer tailored and comprehensive solutions for your specific home and circumstances, and many are skilled at conducting thorough inspections.
The best and most well-established companies in New York City will have extensive knowledge about the common pests in the area, local climate and weather patterns, which can prove invaluable when trying to control an infestation promptly.
Below, we’ve laid out some pros and cons to consider before deciding between hiring a professional pest control company or opting for a DIY solution.
Pros
Effectiveness
When dealing with significant or stubborn pest infestations, professional pest control services and products tend to be more effective and efficient in comparison to DIY solutions. While there are certain pests, like ants, that are less concerning if they resurface once or twice, there are others, like cockroaches, termites, rats or mice, where you’ll want to ensure the job is done correctly the first time to avoid any chances of a recurrence.
Guarantees
It’s not common for a DIY pest control product to be backed by an effectiveness guarantee, and even if you find ones that are, there’s no guarantee that the store where you made the purchase will be willing to accept returns or exchanges for those items once they’ve been opened or used.
Long story short, if you are attempting DIY pest control and are testing out various products to do so, you may be out of luck (and money) if these items don’t work as advertised.
That said, most reputable pest control companies do offer some sort of satisfaction guarantee. It’s customary for professional pest control companies to either offer a refund for the service if it didn’t work, or sometimes they’ll offer additional treatments for free if the first round proved ineffective.
Compare Quotes From Top-rated Pest Control Services
Free, No-commitment Estimates
Safety
It’s common for both professional and DIY pest control methods to use chemicals that homeowners, children and pets should avoid contact with for safety purposes. However, professional pest control companies have the knowledge and expertise to accurately determine the precise amount and type of products to use so that a treatment is effective while remaining safe for homeowners and their pets.
Cons
Cost
While there are still some costs involved with DIY pest control, they’re usually far less than what you’d pay to hire a professional. That said, if you can’t get the job done right, you may spend much more in the long run troubleshooting different DIY options, or worse, end up with an even worse infestation if your DIY solution proves ineffective.
Scheduling
One of the most convenient parts of DIY pest control is that you can do it whenever you have time and aren’t waiting at the mercy of the pest control company’s schedule. Not only does hiring a pest control company mean you’ll need to work around a provider’s schedule to get your treatment done, but often you’ll need to work with them to find time for an inspection, too.
In addition, depending on the type of treatment they’re using, you may need to make extra accommodations to relocate your family or pets, if something like house fumigation is needed, which can make scheduling even more difficult.