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Granite setts going down today

1) Bad or Absent Online Reviews: Go online and search “(pest control company name) reviews”. You’ll most likely find a Google+ profile, HomeAdvisor profile or other local directories that allow customers to leave reviews. Take a minute and read them. No one is perfect. There are bound to be some bad reviews no matter how good the company is, but any pest control company that you choose should have a predominately high rating along with lots of positive comments. Look at how the company responds to bad reviews as well. It can tell a lot about their attitude towards customer service. If you can’t find many reviews, you could be hiring the wrong pest control company. 2) Poor or Outsourced Customer Service: If you call and get no answer, or no prompt return call, that’s not good. When you do talk to someone, ask them where the representative where their office is. Deal with a local company, not a big national chain that has a call center hundreds of miles away. Wouldn’t it be great if the person on the phone actually knows the technician and can speak to him face to face when he comes back each day? A good pest control company’s team should be just as focused on developing a personal trust with you as they are with getting rid of pests. 142_Quality Pro Logo3) Little or No Association Accountability or Continuing Education: In Pennsylvania, there are some minimal requirements for pest control companies. The companies need to be licensed by the state with a BU number that has to be prominently displayed on their vehicle. The company needs to have at least one of their team licensed by the PA Dept. of Agriculture to apply pesticides on your property. That requires them passing a written exam. All other staff needs to be minimally registered which requires no exam. It’s important to not only have state licensed technicians, but also to make sure that your pest control company is dedicated to learning the best methods to control pests and are also bound by a code of ethics by the National Pest Management Association. From that point, they can also further train their staff to get additional certifications such as to be QualityPro Certified or become an Associate Certified Entomologist. That shows the company is all about giving you great service! 4) Poorly Equipped Vehicles and Staff: If someone shows up in a car to do your treatment, you should be suspicious. The materials stored in vehicles should not be in passenger compartments. There are times that a hand-sprayer or backpack sprayer is appropriate, but a pest control vehicle should have a truck-mounted, pressurized sprayer that can reach the tall peaks along your roof and be able to thoroughly soak the ground around your foundation. The way the technician presents themselves should be in a professional manner both in appearance and with their communication. Pest Control Shield5) Vague information about pest control services: The information about what pests are covered, how treatments are performed, what guarantees are offered, and how work is scheduled should be prominently displayed on the pest control company’s website and literature. They should be ready and willing to provide you with this information and not be surprised when you ask. 6) Indifference about educating their clients and the public: It’s not only in the best interest of the pest control company to teach, but it also will make you a more informed consumer and property owner. If you can’t find helpful pest guides, blog articles, or videos on the company’s website, it could be a bad sign. The more you know about the pests your home or business is plagued with, the more successful you and your pest control company will be. It’s not just about spraying some materials around your house. It’s about you working together to creating a worry-free environment. voted number 1 pest control company7) They have inexperienced staff and lots of turnover: This is a bold question, but ask it. Ask who your technician will be. Ask if they will be your technician each time they service your property. Ask how long they have been with the company or even in the pest control industry. Ask the same questions about that technician’s supervisor and other team members. A company shouldn’t be evasive or annoyed when you ask these questions. It’s not to say that someone relatively new in the industry can’t do a good job, but they should be at least mentored by someone that is attempting to help them become a pest control expert. A good pest control company will care about their team and want them to enjoy working there and to develop in their expertise. The staff should have a common goal, becoming the best pest control company in their area

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Plan before you buy. Sketch your landscape design on paper before you start planting and building. Knowing exactly what you need and where you're going to put it helps avoid wasting money. Decide how much design you want. Although it's less expensive to build a square patio or deck, it's no bargain if you find the result so unappealing that you don't use it. It may be worth it to pay a designer to create a space that you can really use. Talk to a pro. You may not need to hire a landscape architect or designer to develop your whole project, but £50-£100 for an hour-long consultation is well worth the money if it saves you from costly mistakes later. Buy in phases. Few people have the financial resources to landscape their property all at once. Divide your project into phases, and pay as you go with funds on hand. You'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase. Don't assume cheaper is always better. Economics of scale being what they are, home improvement warehouses typically offer the lowest prices for common plants and hardscaping materials, such as lumber. However, they may not have the selection and quality you find at more specialized sources. Also, a local specialty shop may provide more personal service, expert advice, and guarantees, which are all helpful if you're a novice. When installing a pond, for example, it may be worth it to pay more through a source that specializes in water gardens, particularly if the staff can help you choose and install equipment. Plant prices may be higher at specialty nurseries, but many offer money-back guarantees on trees, shrubs, and bedding plants.

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