Orkin vs Terminix for May 2024 | Best Pest Control Companies

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Orkin vs Terminix

Wednesday, May 29th

2024 Pest Control Company Reviews

Orkin Review 3 Star Rating

Orkin

3 Star Rating
  • In business for over 100 years
  • 400+ office locations worldwide
  • 24-hour customer care
  • Services target ants, bed bugs, beetles, carpenter ants, centipedes and millipedes, cockroaches, flies, crickets, earwigs, fleas, mites, mosquitoes, moths, rodents, silverfish, spiders, stinging pests, stink bugs, termites, and ticks
  • Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
  • Orkin guarantee gives you 60 days of complimentary service if you're not satisfied, plus a 30-day money-back promise

Orkin is one of the best-known names in pest control, due in no small part to the fact that they've been around for over a century. This company has over 400 offices around the world, and their service targets all of the pests you might expect: ants, bed bugs, beetles, carpenter ants, centipedes and millipedes, cockroaches, flies, crickets, earwigs, fleas, mites, mosquitoes, moths, rodents, silverfish, spiders, stinging pests, stink bugs, termites, and ticks.

Terminix Review 1.5 Star Rating

Terminix

1.5 Star Rating
  • In business for more than 90 years
  • 300 locations nationwide
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Pest control includes bed bugs, termites, ticks, rodents, spiders, cockroaches, ants, wildlife, mosquitoes, moths, silverfish, scorpions, crickets, ants, centipedes and millipedes
  • Prevention services include attic insulation, moisture control, gutter protection, and crawl space services
  • Free initial inspection for termite, rodent and wildlife services only
  • Monthly or quarterly billing

Terminix is well-known in the extermination business, but their reputation doesn't match their long history. While we appreciate their easy online quote and scheduling process and their nationwide availability, their pest control service gets lots of complaints. Customers say that the treatments are ineffective, reps can be shady, and there's no refund policy if you're dissatisfied. Terminix gets our lowest rating among pest control companies.

Where Can You Get the Best Pest Control Service?

Is it with a big-name brand or a smaller, local company? The answer is "it depends" . You may find that a lesser-known exterminator takes more time to understand your needs, or that a large company offers a broader package of services that go beyond extermination and into lawn and landscape management, wildlife removal, or even irrigation maintenance.

So, where should you start? Begin with your own assessment of the problem. What pests are you seeing? Do you spot them only once in a while or at any time of day? Where have you seen them in your house or yard? All of this information will help the pest control company have an idea of how pervasive your problem is.

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Pest Control Company FAQ

Pest control will get rid of any type of bug that's commonly seen around homes and neighborhoods that can cause damage to your house or be venomous to humans. Some of the most common bugs killed by pest control are cockroaches, spiders, scorpions, mosquitoes, wasps, and ants. Bugs can find safety within the walls of your home and multiply quickly, causing a threat to anyone in the home, so those are the types of insects you want to eliminate with pest control.
In almost all circumstances it is better to hire a professional team to spray your home for pests. They usually know exactly where to look for bugs and how to both eliminate them and prevent them from coming back. They'll seal off entry points and use their knowledge to find a long-term solution to your problem. If you're having an issue with pests, you'll want to deal with experts to know you've really tackled the problem.
Most companies recommend doing treatments regularly. This might be on a quarterly or even bi-monthly basis to effectively eliminate common pests. If you have a serious infestation, it might be wise to do treatments monthly for up to six months to get it under control. A pest control treatment schedule will also take into account the climate you live in. For example, if you live in an area with long, cold winters, you won't need pest control treatments as often during those periods. For people in warmer climates year-round, you'll probably need to be more consistent with your pest control.
Most of the time, pest control services will be performed on the outside of your home. This is because pests come from the outdoors and professionals will want to find entry points and put poison in areas that prevent insects from getting in. You also want as few chemicals inside your home as possible. However, if you're dealing with an infestation, you'll need pest control to tackle areas on the interior of the home where bugs might be hiding like electrical receptacles, pipes, in the back of cupboards, or other small spaces.
Some pesticides used to kill or control pests are toxic to people or pets. Luckily, you don't have to be worried about your own safety as long as you follow the directions of the pest control company. You'll usually be instructed to stay away from certain areas or wait to enter your home for a short period of time after they've completed a treatment. Pest control companies will provide expert advice on how to effectively eliminate bugs while keeping you and your family completely safe from the chemicals used.
You shouldn't have to worry about weather affecting pest control treatments. Many of the pesticides are insoluble, meaning they won't wash away with rain. If it's a particularly stormy day, your pest control company may reschedule your treatment.
It's common for pest control treatments to start making a big difference within 48 hours. Within this time, you'll start to see a noticeable reduction of pests. If you feel like the opposite is happening and you're seeing more activity with the pests, this can be normal too. For the first day or two, pesticides may stir up the pests or bring them out if bait was given. This just means they're being lured out of their hiding spots and the pesticide is doing its job. Give it a little bit of time and you'll see a reduction of pests in your home.
Some companies guarantee results on their work or you'll get a refund for your last scheduled service. If you're dealing with a professional company who has a history of dealing with the specific pests you're wanting to get rid of, it's unlikely that using pest control simply "won't work" . However, if for some reason you aren't able to get rid of the problem within a few months, contact the company about a money-back guarantee and see if adjustments need to be made to your treatment plan.
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Continued from above...

Your next step is to either schedule an inspection or jump right in for a treatment. Depending on the exterminator, you may be able to get a no-obligation, no-cost inspection, though some charge for that service and roll it into the price of your first treatment. Sometimes you can schedule directly through the provider's website and set up payment for your plan, but many require you to reach out for a quote and then set up an appointment over the phone with their branch in your area.

Your pest control plan will depend on several factors: your location, the size of your home and property, the severity of the infestation, and the number of treatments required to get a handle on things. Almost every pest control company will schedule you for quarterly treatments at a minimum, but you may need month-to-month service at first (like when trying to disrupt the lifecycle of breeding cockroaches"�gross, we know"�). Your plan will likely include unlimited service calls between scheduled visits, so you're covered if you still see bugs or critters crawling around in the meanwhile.

No matter which pest control company you choose, make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions. Many plans require a year-long contract, and you'll be charged a significant cancellation fee if you try to close your account ahead of time - even if you're not happy with the service.

In summary, keep an eye on these criteria as you decide which exterminator to use for pest elimination and prevention:

  • Service Area. Make sure the company covers where you live. It does you no good to find an amazing pest control service if they don't operate in your state or region.
  • Onboarding. Can you get an inspection prior to becoming a paying customer? Does the website give you an estimate or a detailed quote for your service, or do you have to speak to a representative? Are the salespeople patient or pushy?
  • Contracts and Service. What will you get for what you pay? How long are you committing to being a customer before you can cancel?
  • Satisfaction Guarantee. Most pest control services only "guarantee" their service by offering unlimited treatments between visits. A small number will refund the payment for your most recently-scheduled visit if the problem doesn't get under control within 30-60 days of retreatments.
  • Reputation. What do other clients say about the pest control company and its technicians? Are they professional, reliable, and knowledgeable? Do they take your concerns seriously? Can you get on the schedule at times that are convenient?

To help you get rid of the pests in your home, once and for all, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked some of the most popular providers available today. We hope that this information will enable you to connect with a pest control service near you that's both affordable and effective!

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