There’s a lot that goes into pest control services. It’s important to know what to expect so you can prepare for your appointment and help the process run as smoothly as possible.

Your Kansas City Pest Control specialist will begin by looking at points of entry and areas of high moisture in and around your home. It’s helpful if you can clear away any obstructions like clutter and furniture so they can inspect thoroughly.

Inspection

A pest control professional is going to take a thorough look at your home and property. This is because, as the name suggests, they are going to solve your pest problem and to do that, they need to know what’s currently happening. They need to know how big your pest infestation is, what types of pests are invading, where the pests are hiding, and how they’re getting into your house.

They’ll also look for evidence of pest activity, such as droppings or damaged areas of your home. In addition, the specialist will inspect for factors that could lead to future pest problems, such as standing water or overgrown vegetation. The specialist may also look for entry points into your home, like gaps in door and window frames or open vents. They might also examine crawl spaces under your home, access to attics, and connected garages.

As part of this inspection, the technician is likely to look at all the nooks and crannies in your home where pests are most often found, including under sinks and in the cracks of baseboards. This is because they are looking for any potential hiding places, and if there are any, your pest control professional will be able to help you fix them.

Next, the pest control specialist will move outside to examine your gutters, points of entry into your home, AC hoses and lines, and your yard. They’ll also look for signs of pest infestation, such as gnaw marks on wood piles and around stored firewood. The specialist is likely to recommend services that will prevent pests from entering your house, such as trimming low-hanging limbs, sealing weep holes, and installing copper mesh in drain lines.

Before the specialist arrives, it’s a good idea to clean your home so that they have easy access to all parts of the house. This will make it easier for them to find and eliminate pests. It might also be necessary to cover furniture with plastic covers, depending on the type of treatment you are having done. You might also need to move large items away from walls so that the specialist can get to them easily.

Report

After performing a complete inspection, the pest control technician will write up their findings in a service report. These reports can also help to inform future treatments. For example, if you have an insect buildup around a vent or chimney, the report can be used to determine whether a more extensive treatment is needed. This will help to avoid further pest problems.

The report should contain a summary of the pests found and damage done to the property. In addition, the report should include a list of all the regular service elements performed. This includes a tally of rodenticide bait replaced, time of applications, and levels of activity in traps and bait stations. It is also important to document conducive conditions, as they can be the root cause of a pest problem.

Keeping these reports can help prevent future infestations and provide you with peace of mind. A good pest control company will always provide you with a detailed and thorough service report.

A pest infestation can be devastating to a family and a home. It can affect the overall value of a property and make it unappealing to potential buyers. Therefore, it is important to treat the pest problem before putting a home up for sale. In some cases, a real estate agent may even require a pest inspection before closing on a property.

A pre-purchase pest control inspection can also help to save you money. By getting rid of pests before you buy, you can save money on repairs and have more confidence in the home that you are buying.

Whether you are a homeowner, realtor, or business owner, there are many benefits to pest control services. These services protect homes, businesses, and people from diseases that are brought on by unwanted pests. They can also help to keep food safe and ensure that companies are compliant with health codes. For homeowners, pest control services can increase the overall value of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. For businesses, a pest-free building can improve customer satisfaction and increase profits.

Treatment

The treatment is a vital step in getting rid of pests from your home. This will vary depending on what services are performed, but in general, the specialist will treat your home with targeted sprays and baits for a variety of different pests (depending on your situation). These products will usually be aimed at the points where the pests are entering and exiting the house, so they may be sprayed in crevices, cracks, or gaps. The products will also often be laid in traps or other devices to further control the problem.

The best way to help the specialist is to clear away any clutter in areas where they need access. This includes items like boxes, toys, or storage materials that are blocking access to tight corners or other areas where pests like to hide. It is also a good idea to wipe down counters, tables, and other surfaces before the technician arrives. This will help the chemicals used to better stick to the surfaces, making them more effective.

In addition to the treatments within your home, the pest control expert will generally inspect and treat the outside of your home as well. They will look for things like rotting wood, open doorways, and other entry points into the home, as well as any signs of pests on or around your property. It is also a good idea to trim any trees near your home to remove potential tripping hazards, which the pest control professional will probably point out.

It is important to remember that a full pest control treatment can take weeks to complete, so don’t be alarmed if you still see some bugs in your home for a while after the service is completed. This is because the chemicals will likely take some time to fully work their way through the house, and you may have a few dead pests around.

If you have pets or children, it is a good idea to make arrangements for them to be temporarily out of the house during the treatment. This will prevent them from wandering into the treated areas and potentially being exposed to dangerous chemicals. If possible, it is a good idea to leave them with a friend or family member while the treatment is being performed, or at a local pet hotel or boarding facility for the day.

Follow-Up

Once the pest control service is done, they will usually leave you with some follow-up instructions. The best thing to do is listen carefully and comply as much as possible, as this will help ensure that the treatment works properly and that you are free of pests in the long run. Thoroughly vacuuming, cleaning surfaces, tossing uncovered food, washing exposed clothing and bedding in hot water, and making sure that all children’s toys are protected and stored away from the floor are some of the most important follow-up steps you can take.

It is also a good idea to have all your paper products in bags or boxes and to throw away any wet paper products, such as newspapers and brown bags used for distributing groceries. Many pests love to snack on paper, and wet paper is the perfect environment for them.

While it might be tempting to just quickly mop and sweep the entire house once the pests are gone, you should avoid doing so for a few weeks. This is because mops and brooms can wipe off the treated baseboards, reducing their effectiveness.

You should also make sure to repair any leaky taps and drainage pipes in your home. Leaky pipes serve as entry points for pests and can result in re-infestation.

Having all food in a closed cupboard or the fridge is also an excellent way to prevent pests from getting into your food. Keep in mind that pests can also contaminate food by feeding on it, and contaminated food can pose health hazards to you and your family.

It’s also a good idea to have some duct tape handy, in case you need to seal any small cracks or crevices in your walls. This will allow you to quickly address any pests that might come back, and prevent them from having access to your food, water, and other vital things.

Finally, you should also have a phone number for the pest control company, so that they can call you within a week or so after your initial treatment to check on how satisfied you are with their work and any additional concerns you might have. This is a great opportunity to shop around for the best prices and to get a few expert opinions on the severity of your pest problem and what type of treatment may be necessary.