Pest Control Cost

Typical costs:

• General pest treatment for insects such as spiders, roaches (except German roaches), crickets, earwigs, millipedes or centipedes can be $50-$300 or more for a first application (typically spraying interior baseboards and/or along the exterior of the residence, and/or installing reusable bait traps), depending on local rates, the type of pests present and the size of the house. Most pest control companies either recommend or require regular maintenance visits, which can be $25-$60 for monthly applications or $30-$110 for quarterly service, making a total annual cost of $300-$600 or more. (Note that some companies quote monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly charges but require payment in advance on an annual basis.)
• For bed bugs, an initial visual inspection to identify the problem can be free or cost $50-$200 or more; or an inspection by a dog specially trained to detect bed bugs can cost $300-$600. Bed bug treatment can cost $250-$900 per room; total costs can be $1,000-$10,000+ depending on what's needed. For details, see How Much Does Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Cost.
• Termite extermination can be accomplished a variety of ways -- using chemicals ($1,350-$2,500 for a 1,250-square-foot home); bait (around $1,500 for 1,250 square feet); fumigation ($200-$2,500 for 1,250 square feet); heat ($1,200-$2,500 for 1,250 square feet); or electricity or microwaves (about $1,150 for a small infestation). See How Much Does Termite Control Cost.
• Ant control is usually included in a general pest control treatment and maintenance program, but specific service for fire ant control can be $10-$50 or more for do-it-yourself efforts or $100-$300 or more for treatments by a pest control company or landscaping service. Carpenter ant control starts around $25-$50 for a do-it-yourself approach eliminating an easily accessible outdoor nest to as high as $500-$1,000 or more to have a professional do a drill-and-dust application to every void in every wall in the house. See How Much Does Ant Control Cost or How Much Does Fire Ant Control Cost. Bee or wasp removal can range from free to have a healthy honey bee swarm or easy-to-reach hive removed by a beekeeper to $100-$700 or more, depending on where the nest/hive is located and how many bees or wasps it contains. See How Much Does Bee Removal Cost.
• Removing unwanted wildlife that has moved into an attic, crawlspace, basement or other area of a home can cost $200-$1,000 or more depending on the type of animal and how difficult it is to trap. Potential uninvited animal houseguests can include squirrels, feral house cats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, armadillos or porcupines. Bat removal can cost $300-$1,500 to remove a small to medium (50-200) bat colony. Snake removal may cost $100-$600 or more depending on local rates, travel times, and the type and size of the snake. Measures to prevent future snake entry might add another $100-$500 or more to the total cost. Mice or rat control can be $200 to $2,000 for removal and cleanup, depending on the extent of the infestation and damages. Costs for professional squirrel eviction and exclusion can total $300-$1,500 or more. Mole or gopher control can cost $50-$500 or more.

• Different techniques are required to control insect pests like termites or roaches than when dealing with wildlife, so animal removal companies are generally a separate business from pest control services. Some pest control companies have a division that does wildlife removal work, but typically with a completely separate staff from its pest control services.
• The National Pest Management Association and the Termite Institute offer online locators to search for a local pest control company. The Environmental Protection Agency lists tips for choosing a pest control company^[1] .
• Search for wildlife removal experts through the National Wildlife Control Operators Association^[2] or the National Wildlife Trapper Directory^[3] . The Humane Society of the United States lists tips for choosing a wildlife removal company^[4] .
• Ask for references from satisfied customers.

1.  www.epa.gov/region7/pesticides/pest_control.htm
2.  www.nwcoa.com/
3.  www.247wildlife.com/wildlifetrapperdirectory.htm
4.  www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/choosing_wildlife_control_company.html

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