We humans must share the earth with all types of pests — everything from rodents and bed bugs to ants, cockroaches, spiders, termites, flies — the list goes on. We go to great lengths to eliminate these intruders from our homes and business establishments, often at significant expense to property owners.

How much do we spend on pest management? In 2017, pest control companies in the United States generated approximately $8.597 billion in revenues by helping home and business owners prevent and eliminate infestations. Examples of pest-specific expenditures include $860 million on rats and mice and $644.7 million on bed bugs.

With all the money spent on getting rid of pests, one crucial question comes to mind: Is pest control worth it? When you consider the ramifications of not controlling insect and rodent infestations, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

The Cost of Pest Management: Breaking It Down

We know that residential and commercial property owners spend billions of dollars on pest control each year, but what are the costs for specific pest control services? It will depend on a variety of factors, such as whether you need one-time or recurring visits, the type of pests, and the level of infestation. You will also notice a difference between the cost of pest extermination vs. control:

• One-time visit: If you’re fortunate, the pest control service you hire may be able to identify and exterminate the pests in one visit to your home or business. But these calls are not inexpensive. They typically consist of several steps, including conducting an assessment, finding the pests’ lair, determining their entry points, and applying the right treatment. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $700 for this service.
• Initial visit: If you enter into an ongoing pest control contract (often the best long-term solution), your cost will be around $250-$850 for the first consultative service call. This initial visit will include an inspection and assessment, locating the nest and finding the entry points. The provider will also work with you to develop a plan to address the infestation.
• Regular treatments: If you require ongoing proactive pest control visits, your needs will determine the frequency of the calls. Your service may be anywhere from $55 to $75 a month (residential) to $1,000 or more a month (commercial). monthly ($40-$45 per call), bi-monthly ($50-$60) or quarterly ($100-$300)

These costs may be somewhat lower or higher based on the size of the property. Also, many types of pests will require regular ongoing visits, as they are virtually impossible to exterminate completely and are likely to keep coming back. Examples include roaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, rats, mice, and termites.

Is Proactive Pest Control Worth It for Homeowners?

If you’re a homeowner, pests pose various threats to your property, as well as to the health and safety of your family. When you consider that pests such as mice, rats and cockroaches reproduce quickly and exponentially, the problem will only get worse if you don’t take proactive control measures.

Termites are the biggest culprits when it comes to harming the structure of your home. You might not see these tiny, wood-devouring insects, but they can slowly destroy your house’s foundation. By some estimates, termites cause approximately $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. each year, which homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover.

The health issues posed by pests vary based on the type. Here are a few examples of the illnesses and diseases that pests in New York State carry and transmit:

• Rodents: Mice and rats are some of the most prevalent spreaders of diseases in New York, especially in winter when they raid household food supplies. Rodents may carry everything from Hantavirus and leptospirosis to rat-bite fever and salmonellosis.
• Cockroaches: Roaches aren’t picky eaters. They’ll dine on practically anything they come across in your home — including the feces in a cat’s litter box. Because of their “unhealthy” dietary habits, they often carry a wide variety of illness-causing viruses and bacteria.
• Fleas: While it’s true that fleas target household pets like cats and dogs, the diseases they carry can spread to humans. For instance, cat scratch disease (CSD) is an affliction that humans can contract from their cats that have received flea bites and causes symptoms such as red bumps, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.
• Mosquitoes: Did you know that the tiny mosquito causes more deaths around the world than all other (non-human) animals combined? They carry and transmit a wide range of diseases like West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, malaria and dengue fever.
• Flies: Those pesky houseflies are more than a nuisance. Flies breed in filth, and they feed on garbage, feces and rotting food. They can cause typhoid, cholera, eye infections and many other afflictions.

Implementing a proactive pest control solution is the best way to protect your family from these and other dangerous household pests.

Is Integrated Pest Management Worth It for Businesses?

If you own a business establishment, pest exclusion is essential for a variety of reasons. If customers see mice or bugs scampering, crawling or flying around your facility, you can bet they won’t make a return visit anytime soon. The word will get around quickly, and you’ll surely experience a decrease in your revenues. The news of an infestation can be fatal for businesses like restaurants and others that prepare or serve food.

Effective commercial pest control measures will also keep you compliant with health and safety codes. A health inspector who notices signs of infestation during a visit may shut your business down until you can remedy the situation.

One note: If you operate a business in New York, it is illegal to apply pesticides in a commercial or industrial facility yourself. You must enlist the services of a licensed pest management professional to complete the task.

Contact Pestech to Learn More

If you’re a home or business owner in New York, Pestech Pest Control Solutions can help you control all types of pests. We’ll be happy to provide more information regarding why pest control is worth it and help you understand the costs of pet exclusion. Contact us to learn more or schedule an inspection today.