How to handle a pest problem

A first-year carpenter-ant colony is a 1-visit fix; a 5-year-old nest in a rim joist is a different job. Mice that just arrived from a fall cool-down need exclusion; an entrenched population needs trapping plus exclusion plus sanitation. Bedbugs and German cockroaches require multi-visit protocols measured in weeks, not hours.

Bait + monitoring is slower but more durable than perimeter spray alone. Heat treatments for bedbugs cost more up-front than chemical but finish in a day. Termite work splits between liquid barriers ($1,500–3,500) and bait systems like Sentricon ($1,200–2,500 install + $250–450/yr monitoring) — both work well, but the maintenance economics are very different. Ask your pro which they recommend for your situation and why.

Square footage matters less than perimeter and access. A 1,200 sqft cape with a tight crawlspace and a finished basement costs more to treat than a 2,400 sqft colonial with a walk-out. Multi-family buildings price per unit because each unit needs interior access.

Standing water, wood-to-soil contact, gaps at utility penetrations, mulch piled against siding, gutter overflow — these are usually why pests came back last time. Addressing them alongside treatment is where the durable ROI is. Ask whether the scope will address conducive conditions and exclusion, not just the active infestation.

Quarterly is the standard residential cadence and works for most suburban properties. Monthly is appropriate for commercial kitchens, active severe infestations, or properties with documented chronic pressure (e.g. wooded lots backing to wetlands). If a pro recommends monthly, ask what about your specific property warrants it — there is usually a good reason worth understanding.

Most reputable companies include free re-treats between scheduled visits if covered pests return. Confirm upfront what is covered, when the guarantee starts, and what triggers a re-service so there are no surprises later.