Are exterminators worth paying extra for?

E

El_Guapo

500+ Posts
The house we recently bought had a few months left on the previous owner's extermination contract. It expires next month. Is there anything an exterminator does that I can't do myself with a bottle of diazanon or whatever from Home Depot?
 
They do it for you... And if you find anything in the house between visits, they come back. Our company also provides coverage for fire ants.

Only thing I worry about now are mosquitoes. I hate mosquitoes.
 
In Austin, recommendations please. I am prob. going to go with the guys that use natural stuff, forget the name. The ones w/ the kid and the puppy playing and hugging.

But if I get good ones that are pet safe and thorough that could change things.
 
No, unless you plan on selling your house or unless it is required in your loan document. You can purchase a twenty ounce container of Termidor or a like insecticide for $70 to $80. This will make something like 20 gallons which is enough to treat your house for years. They also sell the bait systems for a couple of hundred bucks with directions on how to install it (the price is more then $1000 at a place like orkin).

If you don't mind spending an hour or so of your own time, you will definately save some money.Termites
 
I say the pros are totally worth it. They do get stuff that is waaay too hot for consumers to handle without special training. If you want to go with stuff from Eckerds or Home Depot, you might as well use nematodes and diatomaceous earth with the Scientologists. Not me, brother. Give me the hard stuff, please.
 
I have smashing results with the Nematodes. I am not a sucka for chemicals. If I can find a cheaper and natural way of doing things, I will not be selfish and harm the environment or take a chance of having chemicals around myself, home or animal. I don't always trust what labels say either.

But Nematodes do work and they work very very well. The only error is human error in that some don't follow the directions. But they work.
 
We use ABC Pest & Lawn and are very satisfied. They come out twice a year at $120 a visit. We used to have tons of bugs and ants in the house but have been pest-free since then. If any show up between visits, they come back out for free.
 
It's a brick house that supposedly had termintes in the porch columns 10 years ago. The termite inspection we had done when we bought the place was clean. The owner before me (who was not the owner when there were termites) had this Terminix contract. Apparently it doesn't include ants because we've had ants in the house which a $10 box of traps from Lowes took care of. There's these little round green bait things all around the perimeter that I keep chewing up with my lawnmower. At the old house I'd mix up some Dursban every so often and give the outside a good soaking. Unfortunately they don't make Dursban anymore. I guess it worked too well.

What are nematodes?
 
Bulwark in Austin...not one roach inside my house in two years--knock on wood! I hate those things...had Terminix previously and would get 5-8 every year. Sometimes they were sick or dying but still-gross! Not a problem with Bulwark system.
 
Another vote for Bulwark.
Their first visit, they treat the house internally and spray a 3 foot perimeter externally. They also walk the yard and treat as needed for ants or other insects you may have.Subsequent monthly visits, they spray their 3 foot perimeter around the house and will treat any areas beyond that 3 foot perimeter they see insects, or that you may point out.
Best investment I've made (and II'm a tightwad when it comes to my money).
 
I guess the cost is based on sq. footage of the house and perimenter, right?
 
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