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Is DIY Pest Control Less Expensive Than Professional Treatment?

Oct 24, 2019

Is DIY Pest Control Cheaper?

Many people delay getting pest control services out of concern over the costs. They live with the frustration and health-risks of pests and vermin in their home because they don't want to, or fear that they can't afford, to have them removed. Other's balk at the idea of professional pest control treatment, believing that they can save a significant amount of money by picking up a few products at the local hardware store and dealing with the problem themselves.

The truth is, in almost all pest control situations, hiring a professional to assess and deal with your infestation saves you money in the long run.Over the counter pesticides are not nearly as lethal as those available to licensed pros, and even the best ones must be appropriately placed and properly executed to be effective. Homeowner's typically tried 2-3 products before they find one that works for them, and even then, it's likely to be a short-term solution. This means additional treatments at additional time and expense.Other factors that determine cost include the size of your home, price, the effectiveness of products, time invested, and safety.

Size Of Your Home

Much of the expense of pest control will depend on the square footage of the home being treated. You'll end up paying less if your home is smaller. Bigger houses mean more time spent locating and identifying the problem, and more product to dispatch it.

Cost of Products

The cost of over-the-counter extermination products varies wildly, based on brand, what type of pests you're dealing with, and how bad the infestation is. Labor, of course, is free (or, is it? How much is your time worth?) but you'll still be out-of-pocket for sprayers, insecticides, poisons, baits, traps, and protective gear for yourself and, in some cases, your furniture, and cleaning materials when the job is done. Don't rely on cheaper methods if your infestation is severe. You'll likely be wasting your hard-earned money on a short-term fix or worse…no fix at all.

One of the best reasons to hire a pest control service is that these are professionals who have the training and experience to not only determine the types of pests on your property but how best to eliminate them, as well. Certain pests can be eradicated using poisoned bait, and some are best dealt with using traps, while still others require specific chemicals.Knowing precisely what is needed for the problem at hand, as well as how (and where) to best deploy it, dramatically reduces time, effort, and expenses that can otherwise be wasted when "shooting in the dark" methods fail. Speaking of…

Time

If you choose to DIY, you'll need to research and compare both the costs and effectiveness of any brand or methods you're considering, which, of course, means more of your time spent.

After that, you'll need to find the location of the infestation, as well as where and how they are entering the home, and deal with that first.

Depending on what methods you use, you may also need to:

Relocate family and pets, especially small children and the elderly
Purchase and layout protective covers for your furniture, or move it out of the house
Set up and deploy baits, traps, or foggers…and wait for them to work.
Finally, you'll need to clean the whole mess up, all the while hoping that all of your time and effort wasn't in vain.

If not, you can, of course, try another method, meaning more time and more money, with no greater guarantee of success.Professionals typically offer some type of time and success guarantee. They can afford to do this because, due to their experience, they can get the job done more quickly, and are much likelier to have effective, reliable results than the non-professional.

Your Family's Health & Safety

By far, the most crucial factor when asking yourself if DIY pest control cost more than professional treatments is the safety and well-being of and yourself your family. The chemicals used to kill insects, rodents, and other pests can be dangerous, particularly to children or pets. Traps and baits can be equally dangerous.

Plus, they have professional-grade safety gear to protect themselves in the process. So, even though it's tempting to trying to remedy pest problems yourself, with some store-bought or home remedies, and even though, yes, it may cost less in the short-term, pest control – like dental work – is one of those jobs that's best left to the professionals.

Eradicating pests not only contributes our family's health, safety, and happiness; it protects the value of what is, for most of us, our single most valuable investment. Our home.

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