Quotes and contracts are full of jargon. Learn the terms for treatments, products, and guarantees so you can compare pest control companies on what actually matters.
Licensing, permit, lien and tax rules vary by state and city and change over time. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice; check with your local building department, state licensing board or a professional for your situation.
Checklist
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) means a company inspects, monitors, and fixes the source of a pest problem before spraying anything.
- The EPA suggests asking for baits and crack-and-crevice work, and says indoor sprays should target specific spots rather than whole rooms.
- Write down the product name and EPA registration number for any chemical a technician uses in your home.
- Termites cause more than $5 billion in U.S. property damage each year, and home insurance typically does not cover it.
- Government agencies never endorse pest control companies, so any claim of official endorsement is a red flag.
Pest control quotes come wrapped in jargon: IPM plans, barrier treatments, bait stations, WDO reports. Without the vocabulary, you cannot tell a thorough plan from a spray-and-go visit, and you cannot compare two contracts fairly. Here are the terms you will hear most, and which ones signal a company that follows the rules.
IPM and Why Good Companies Lead With It
Reputable companies talk about preventing and monitoring pests, not just killing them.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). An approach that combines common-sense practices, information on pest life cycles, and available control methods to manage pests economically, with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. Pesticides are one tool, not the whole plan.
Action threshold. The point at which a pest is numerous enough that control is actually needed. One ant does not always mean it is time to treat.
Monitoring. Regular checks to see which pests are present and how many, so decisions rest on evidence instead of guesswork.
Prevention. Sealing cracks, fixing moisture problems, and improving sanitation so pests never become a problem at all.
The pieces fit together in How Integrated Pest Management Works for Your Home.
Treatment Terms
Barrier treatment. A pesticide applied in a band around the outside of a structure to stop pests before they get in.
Bait station. A container holding bait mixed with a pesticide, built with small openings or baffles that keep children, pets, and other nontarget animals away from the bait.
Crack and crevice treatment. Applying pesticide into the narrow gaps where pests actually hide. The EPA advises asking companies to favor baits and these targeted treatments whenever they will do the job.
Broadcast application. Treating a wide area at once. Be cautious about an indoor plan that leans on it, since the EPA says products not in baits or traps should go only where pests are, not across an entire room.
Product Terms
EPA registration number. The number printed on most pesticide labels that identifies the product as EPA-registered. Write down the name and registration number of anything used in your home.
General-use pesticide. A product sold to the public, such as store-bought sprays, that you can apply on your own property without certification. You still have to follow the label.
Restricted-use pesticide. A product only certified applicators may apply professionally, and some states add a permit requirement. Rules vary by state, so check with your state agency.
Label. The legal directions for using a product, not just fine print. Before signing, ask for the labels for every pesticide in the plan along with the application rates.
Contract Terms
Estimate. A written quote before work begins. Most companies offer free estimates, and most pest problems can wait a few days while you gather several and compare.
Guarantee. A commitment to keep working until the problem is solved or to refund part of the fee. Get it in writing with everything else.
Wood-Destroying Organism Terms
Wood-destroying organism (WDO). A category covering termites, carpenter ants, and similar insects that damage structures. Termites do more than $5 billion in damage to U.S. property each year, and home insurance usually does not cover it.
Termite letter. An informal name for the written inspection report some states require when a home is sold or treated, documenting whether wood-destroying organisms were found. Names and requirements vary by state.
Mud tube. A tunnel termites build to travel between their colony and the wood they feed on, and a classic sign of trouble around a foundation. The National Pest Management Association recommends an annual termite assessment by a licensed professional.
Carpenter ant. A large ant that first nests in wood softened by moisture and may later tunnel through dry wood. Mature colonies can hold more than 50,000 ants, which is why experts say to leave them to professionals.
Licensing Terms
State pest control license. Licensing happens at the state level, often through the department of agriculture, and requirements vary. Ask to see the license before signing. The same caution applies to anyone working inside your home, which is why we put together How to Check a Contractor’s License.
Certified applicator. Someone who has met state certification requirements and may legally apply pesticides professionally, including restricted-use products.
Questions to Ask and Red Flags
Before you book, ask: How long have you operated from your current address? Can you provide references? Will you locate and fix what is drawing pests in before any chemical goes down? Which products will you use, and what are their EPA registration numbers?
Then watch for these sales tactics, all flagged by the EPA:
- Selling door-to-door, especially to elderly people who live alone. Check identification and credentials.
- Pressuring you to treat immediately, or bundling pest control with unrelated home repair or tree trimming at a special price.
- Quoting a per-gallon price for termite work, which can take hundreds of gallons of diluted product.
- Claiming a secret formula. Every pesticide must be registered with the U.S. EPA and state agriculture departments, and registered labels list active ingredients.
- Offering a discount using leftover material from another job.
- Claiming an endorsement from a government agency. No government agency endorses pest control companies or pesticide products.
Red flags
A company that will not slow down, put the plan in writing, or show you its license is telling you how the whole relationship will go. Close the door and check its record with your state agency first.
Keep reading
- What Does a House Cleaning Service Actually Include? helps you compare recurring home services by the written checklist, not the price alone.
- Before You Hire a Housekeeper: A Homeowner’s Checklist covers vetting and references for anyone who will work regularly inside your home.
Homeowners ask
What is IPM and why should I care?
IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management, an approach that combines monitoring, prevention, and targeted treatments to manage pests with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. A company that leads with IPM is less likely to spray where it is not needed.
Should I pay more for a company that avoids pesticides?
The EPA says to choose a pest control company the way you would any service, on quality and value, not price alone. Get free estimates from several companies, then compare what each plan includes.
How do I check that a pest control company is legitimate?
Pest control licensing is handled at the state level, often through the state department of agriculture, and rules vary by state. Ask for a copy of the license, then check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau, your state department of agriculture, or the state attorney general’s office.
What should I do after a treatment?
Keep pets and children away from treated areas, and write down the name and EPA registration number of any chemical used. The technician can tell you what was applied and hand over the product’s safety sheet if you ask.