How much does your service cost?
The cost depends on the size of your home and yard, or office, and the type of service you need. To determine the needs for your specific situation, we conduct a free Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Risk Assessment. Having an experienced technician on-site will get you the best solution for the best price.
How long does the IPM Risk Assessment take?
It usually takes 30 minutes to complete the assessment and discuss all options with you.
What is IPM - Integrated Pest Management?
The textbook definition of Integrated Pest Management states that it is a pest control strategy that relies on accurate identification and scientific knowledge of target pests, reliable monitoring to assess pest presence, and preventative measures (including judicious pesticide use) to correct pest problems. We have a blog post on our website that has a lot more information on Integrated Pest Management. We take a scientific approach to everything we do making every attempt to reduce our reliance on pesticides.
Do you offer green services?
Yes, that is at the heart of everything we do! We were founded as Venus Organic Company where all we offered were true organic services. While our offerings have expanded over the years and the name changed to Venus Pest Company to reflect that, our Bee Green service is still our most popular and sought after service. Our Bee Green service takes IPM to another level by combining advanced exclusion tactics and cutting-edge, reduced risk pesticides to minimize any harmful effects on the environment.
Do you check for termites during the IPM Risk Assessment or Quarterly Pest Service?
We do a cursory check for both termites and termite conducive conditions during an assessment, but it is no substitute of our Termite Inspection Service.
Do I have to be home for pest or mosquito control service?
You do not need to be home for service. Our experience has shown that outdoor treatments solve most pest problems. In fact, most of our time and materials are spent outdoors anyway, whether you are home or not. Every pest service comes with a warranty that includes the inside of your home. So if you do experience pest problems inside, or simply request indoor service, we are happy to do so at no additional charge. Mosquito Services are outdoors only and do not require your presence.
Do I have to leave for the service?
Only for indoor flea treatments or bed bug treatments. For all other services, we only require that pets and people stay off of treated areas until the application is dry. That's usually not longer than 20 minutes, or you can just wear shoes if you must go outdoors immediately.
Will you need to go inside?
We go inside during the IPM Risk Assessment and the Initial Pest Control service, but it is not necessary for mosquito control or regular quarterly pest control. Many of our clients prefer the convenience of outside only service and don’t see any difference in results. If we do need to go inside for any reason, you can leave us a key, garage code, or meet us there. Typically indoor treatments take no longer than 10-15 minutes, so you can be on your way quickly if you need to be somewhere else.
Do I have to put up my pets?
Bird cages, fish tanks, and reptile terrariums should be covered. Other pets can be left out as long as they are calm and stay out of the way. We do ask that overly curious or territorial pets be kenneled while we perform the service. It also helps to pick up any pet toys, dishes, or bowls that might be laying around so that we do not have to move them while trying to perform a treatment.
Will your treatment hurt my plants?
No. Plants are not harmed by insecticides.
Will your treatment damage or stain my wood, paint, or furniture?
No. Most of the products we use are water-based. That means that they can be washed off almost any surface.
Do I need to re-schedule because of rain or other inclement weather?
No. The technicians and office staff watch the weather closely to be sure we can make an effective treatment and will contact you if there is a need to reschedule. We have designed a special "rainy day" service where we make granular applications and achieve the same great results. In heavy rain, we may treat indoors and covered areas only at the time of the appointment and return at a later, drier date and time to treat the outside.
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for service?
For exterior treatments, you should trim grass and weeds, make sure gates are unlocked, and remove children’s toys, pet toys, pet food and water bowls from the areas to be treated. It also helps to clear clutter from the walls and around doors and windows for interior treatments.
What makes Venus Pest Company different?
There are 2 big differences between us and the other guys. First, all of our services are developed by a Board Certified Entomologist based on the principals of IPM (see "What is Integrated Pest Management?" above). The second difference is in our world class technicians. They are the most knowledgeable around and have advanced training on pesticides' active ingredients and pest biology. They are dependable, meaning they are always on time. They are clean and won't track mud or debris into your house. They are courteous, so you know they will be respectful of your home and your privacy.
Yes, we can handle any kind of rodent or wildlife problem you have - rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, or even cats! Anything larger might require a call to animal control.
After my initial service, how do I know when you are coming for the next service?
For recurring services, we automatically schedule your next appointment based on your requests and at a time when we have other clients close to you to service. This allows us to keep our fuel costs and travel times at a reasonable level and save you money. We have only raised prices once in 10 years! You will be notified of your next automatically scheduled service by email about 1 week before the service. Please add service@venuspest.com to your list of contacts to ensure you receive your reminders as they sometimes get passed to junk folders through certain providers. You also receive an automated phone call 1 to 2 days before the service. If the time of your automatically scheduled appointment is inconvenient, you may reschedule for another time by requesting a change at least 24 hrs in advance.
When should I see results after a treatment?
That depends on the pest and the type of treatment. For most pest problems results should be evident almost immediately and complete within 7 to 10 days. For mosquitoes, the result will be complete within a few hours. For fleas, the initial result will be immediate, but some additional maintenance is required to ensure there is no resurgence later, but we leave you with all the information and tools required to prevent this.
How can I pay for the service?
We take just about any method of payment available. We accept all major credit and debit cards, including American Express, direct draft from your bank, and of course cash or checks are always welcome. We also have a convenient payment portal on our website if you prefer to pay online, just ask us to activate your account for you.
Skipping a treatment is no big deal since you do the same thing each quarter, right?
Actually, our quarterly services are designed to match up with the different environmental conditions and pest pressures that we experience during each of the four seasons. Skipping a service means you will not get the full effectiveness of the quarterly service throughout the year. For example, our Winter service (December, January, February) includes destroying overwintering dirt daubers in their nests and removing spider webs and other wasps nests, while our Spring service (February, March, April) includes application of an insect growth regulator that interrupts insect development around the perimeter of your home for up to 9 months. Summer and Fall services target pests that are most active at those times. Scorpions, for example are most active in the summer, while crickets are most active in the fall.