This Old House Pest Control Review Methodology
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We are committed to providing unbiased and comprehensive reviews for our readers. This means earning your trust through transparency and having the data to back up our ratings and recommendations. With that in mind, we spent time creating an objective rating system to score the best pest control companies.
Pest Control Research Process
Our review process includes the following research methods.
First-Party Research
We check and update all of the data and metrics on the companies on a regular basis to ensure we have the most current and accurate information. This includes information on workmanship guarantees, state availability, and financing options.
Customer Insights
We read multiple customer reviews across third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot. We pay attention to recurring themes in customer feedback and note the effectiveness of pest control services, customer service, and more.
Secret Shopping
We contact every pest control company via phone and online chat (if available) to talk to representatives. We get quotes and ask questions to fully understand each company’s pest control plans. We also note the customer service, including factors such as wait times, friendliness, and problem-solving ability.
Factors Evaluated To Compare Pest Control Companies
With that data, we created a rating system to score each pest control company. Our rating system is a weighted, 100-point scale based on a number of factors. We divide the total score of each provider by 20 to obtain our 5-star ratings. The factors we consider are the following:
Plans and Services (30)
Companies with multiple plans and service offerings were given higher scores than those without. When scoring this factor, we considered two broad categories: general plans and specialty treatments. For general plans, companies scored more points if they covered a wide array of common pests (such as ants, spiders, and cockroaches). For specialty treatments, companies with multiple treatment plans that target hard-to-remove pests (such as termites, ticks, and mosquitoes) scored higher.
Reputation and Customer Responses (15)
We consider companies with longer, verifiable business histories and a track record of positive customer experiences to be more trustworthy. We awarded points for years in business combined with a total average customer review score. We review third-party sources such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot to find verifiable, unbiased customer feedback. Older companies with higher average customer ratings scored more points in this category.
Customer Service (25)
When scoring this factor, we considered two general criteria: how easy a company is to contact and any additional benefits it provides its customers. Companies with only one means of communication scored lower than those with an open phone number, email address, and online chat feature.
Companies with GreenPro or QualityPro certifications received more points. We awarded points to those that clearly and transparently offer information sheets on their treatment products. Additionally, companies received points for providing the following services:
- One-time treatment options
- Online resources
- Pet and child-safe treatment options
Workmanship Guarantee (15)
A company that provides a reliable service guarantee stands behind its work. For this factor, companies received more points if they provided a money-back and re-service guarantee. We also considered the timeframe for these guarantees when ranking each company, with those offering a money-back guarantee for 30 days or more receiving more points.
Financing (10)
Companies that offer transparent and honest financing for their services are more reliable and trustworthy than those with unclear pricing practices. Companies that provide custom financing, free quotes, and service discounts received full points in this category.
Availability (5)
Where you live determines which providers are available. Companies available in more states were rated higher than those available in fewer states.
Factor Weights for Rating Pest Control Companies
Review the factor weights for our pest control ratings at a glance:
| Review Category | Percent of Score |
|---|---|
|
Plans and Services |
30% |
|
Reputation and Customer Responses |
15% |
|
Customer Service |
25% |
|
Workmanship Guarantee |
15% |
|
Financing |
10% |
|
Availability |
5% |
How To Interpret Company Ratings
We consider any pest control company that scores above 90 to be excellent. These companies offer robust plans that target a wide array of pests, provide excellent customer service and guarantees, and carry the appropriate certifications.
Any company that scores between 80 and 89 is a good choice but may have lost points in certain areas, such as not covering common pests in its general plan or having low customer response scores. We do not typically recommend companies that score between 70 and 79, but they may offer a specialty service with unique benefits that make them a good fit in some situations. We don’t recommend any company that scores below 70.
How To Choose the Best Pest Control Company for You
There’s no shortage of local and nationwide pest control companies to choose from, each offering similar services at comparable prices. With this in mind, deciding which company to choose can be overwhelming. When picking out the right pest control company for you and your family, we recommend considering the following factors:
- Services needed: While pest control companies often advertise that they cover “most household pests,” they may not address the pest you’re facing. We recommend considering the services you need and looking for pest control companies that specialize in those pests. Check each company’s primary pest plan and specialty treatments on its website. If it doesn’t list the pests you’re dealing with, choose another company.
- Price: Pest control services can become expensive, and few companies host pricing information directly on their websites. We recommend obtaining free quotes from eligible pest control companies before making a final decision. Pest control isn’t like other home services, and inspections are rarely free. You can get a free quote with an online or over-the-phone estimate.
- Customer review scores: Even nationally recognized companies can have less-than-impressive branch offices. Before choosing your pest control company, check the customer reviews and work history of each company’s local branch office. Websites such as the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and the company’s Google My Business page are good sources for authentic customer feedback.
- Guarantees: You can learn a lot about a company by looking at its guarantee. Companies with long-lasting guarantees are more reliable and trustworthy than those with open-ended, short-term guarantees.
About Us
We are an independent editorial team of subject matter experts who champion the categories and home services we recommend. From the beginning stages of research to the published review articles, our team works diligently to center the reader’s interests by identifying common pain points, connecting with people with first-hand knowledge and experience, and crafting content that meets the needs of our audience. We aim to help first-time homebuyers, potential sellers, budget-conscious homeowners, and others from all walks of life streamline their decision-making process for selecting their home services.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review pest control plans, navigate the provider website, speak with customer service representatives by phone and online chat (if available), request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plans and services, reputation and customer responses, customer service offerings, workmanship guarantees, financing, and availability to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
