Pest control may not be the most glamorous industry in the world, but it’s one of the most essential — and one that leaves a substantial economic footprint. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global pest control market is worth roughly $20 billion, and it’s expected to grow at a brisk 6 percent clip year over year. And that growth doesn’t just owe to slick marketing. The National Pest Management Association offers some truly startling statistics, and the numbers help the industry’s aggressive expansion make much more sense. For instance, did you know that approximately one-fifth of all worldwide foods gets consumed or spoiled by rodents? What about the fact that “99.6% of pest professionals have treated for bed bugs in the past year”? Or what about how termites cause a whopping $5 billion in property damage each and every year?
Controlling pests is important for both businesses and residences. Below you’ll find eight reasons why you should have a monthly pest control service.
Pest Infestations Can Affect Your Health
Everyone knows that pests are dirty, but were you aware that they can cause serious illness, including some that can cost you your life or leave you with lingering consequences. The diseases and bacteria they spread are:
- Rat-bite Fever, Salmonella, trichinosis, murine typhus, plague and Leptospirosis (rats)
- Chlamydia trachomatis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, and Aeromonas (cockroaches)
- Malaria, arboviruses, enteric diseases, Sleeping Sickness, and Chagas’ Disease (mosquitoes, flies, and Kissing Bugs)
Protect Your Property Value
No one wants to live or work in a property that reeks of roaches or stinks of rat droppings. But fewer are aware that neglecting indoor pest control service or commercial pest control service can lead to permanent damage to your property. How? Well, raccoons and squirrels can damage supporting beams in attics and crawl spaces, which require costly and disruptive repairs to fix. Rodents can do plenty of damage as well, chewing through baseboards, walls, insulation, wiring, shingles, and gutters in search of a new home. Letting cockroaches multiply unchecked may cause a structure to fill with their moldy-smelling stink, which can remain long after you’ve eliminated the insects. And that’s just the start of it. Asking how much does pest control cost for roaches or how much does an exterminator cost for mice when they’re doing long-lasting harm to your property is the definition of penny wise and pound foolish.
Customer Retention and Satisfaction
If you were a retail customer, how would you react if you saw a cockroach scurry across an aisle while you were shopping? Pretty poorly, we’d imagine. Now consider what would happen if the same bug zipped by your feet while you were at a restaurant — or while visiting a loved one in the hospital. There’s a very old proverb that says, “The lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.” Yes, it’s true that pests are ubiquitous, showing up in every space where you try to keep them out. But that simply means business owners and managers need to exercise greater vigilance. If they don’t, customers will simply go elsewhere.
Fewer Bad Reviews and Improved Reputation
The rise of the internet, smart phones, and crowdsourcing has made customer impressions incredibly important. Just consider the case of the humble pistachio and the Naval Orangeworm. This unpleasant pest attempts to lay eggs in pistachios during their harvest. While most farmers have less than 1 percent of their nuts affected and most processors zealously screen out any infested nuts, a few invariably make their way to consumers. The result? News articles, YouTube videos, and even online petitions have cropped up, creating tons of bad publicity. And you know what? The same thing can happen to your business.
Employee Morale
Would you want to work in a bug-infested building or an office that’s swarming with rats? Of course not, but too many businesses ignore pest issues until they become a serious problem. Yet even if a business’ customers aren’t aware of the extent of a specific pest problem, employees doubtlessly do — and it makes them uncomfortable. Wondering how much does an exterminator cost for ants even as the tenacious creatures crawl throughout employee-only areas makes them begin to think that perhaps their boss’ focus isn’t on serving their customers or seeking excellence, and such a realization will undoubtedly lead to increased employee turnover.
Pests are a Constant Threat
When people ask how much is pest control service, we here at Smithereen know that they’re thinking of pest problems as momentary speed bumps (so to speak), short-term issue that will only cost them money. Consider this, though: Pests truly are a constant, year-long threat. Sure, some critters only make their present known during certain seasons, but there’s usually another irritant ready to take their place. Some pests can even become a more-or-less permanent presence in your property if allowed to establish themselves. Think about bed bugs. If you’ve ever had to deal with them, you know that bed bug pest control service seems like a bargain compared to their constant threat.
Monthly Service Can Help Avoid Repair Expenses
Just as pests can damage your property value, they can also saddle you with onerous repairs. Termite-damaged siding. Cabinets swollen with cockroach excrement. Demolished venting. The list goes on and on, and so can the repair bill if you ignore the problem. What’s worse is that many insurers will list pest damage as a maintenance expense and put the onus back on you. Don’t think that a one-time pest control service will solve the problem, either. Established pests require a professional presence.
It’s the Law: Meet Health Codes
For many businesses, eliminating pests isn’t just a matter of pleasing customers or retaining employees or improving the establishment’s reputation. It’s a matter of obeying the law. The government sets certain regulations for different kinds of businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector. Failing to meet these stipulations can cause you to incur fines — or even cost you your life’s work.
Rather than asking is quarterly pest control worth it or trying to manage a nasty problem on your own, call or contact Smithereen Pest Management Services at (800) 336-3500. We have more than a century’s worth of experience in dealing with pests throughout the Midwest.