Pests in or around the home are an unwanted sight. Whether you’ve already spotted some creepy crawlies or you’re just looking to be confident they’re kept away, you may be looking into pest control companies in the Lehigh Valley. If that’s the case, you might also be wondering about pest control or exterminator prices.
First and foremost it might be helpful to understand that even though “exterminator” is still considered the common term for some. Perhaps it’s even how you found this article in a search for “exterminator cost”. Within the pest industry, it is outdated terminology. The term “exterminator” has been replaced by “pest control,” or “pest management.” We felt it was important to point that out so you understand that even though there is new language, we’re still talking about the same services you searched for.
Of course, the terminology isn’t the only thing that’s changed. The pricing structure and models have changed, as well. That’s why we want to help update you on pest control cost and what you need to know.
How are Pest Control Services Structured?
When it comes to pest control cost, there is rightfully quite a bit of confusion based around how these services are structured. That’s because it’s changed. If you grew up in a time when you witnessed your parents or grandparents receiving monthly pest control at their home, you might assume that’s how it’s still done today.
While you might find a few companies performing monthly structural pest control services, it’s really an antiquated model. Restaurants or manufacturing industries might still receive monthly pest control, but that’s because the pressure on them to be completely pest-free is extreme—and they have a lot of food around.
Thanks to improved and longer lasting products, monthly applications at your home are not necessary. In fact, if you have a pest control company that is coming out monthly, there’s a good chance they are overapplying. The vast majority of pest control companies have switched to a quarterly program and it’s considered industry standard.
Of course, that’s not to say that we would not come out in between those monthly visits if deemed necessary. Sometimes, when a homeowner is dealing with the beginning of a major infestation, some extra visits are necessary. It’s something that can be decided on a case-to-case basis.
A Word on Mosquito, Flea, & Tick Control
Everything that we’ve talked about so far is in regard to our structural pest control program, which is Quarterly Pest Control. If you are someone who was searching for “exterminator cost,” most likely you were thinking about keeping pests out of your home.
However, we do also offer Mosquito, Flea, & Tick Control, which is a vital pest control service in terms of protecting your family against these outdoor pests. With this service, because we’re dealing with the outdoors, there are 5 visits (spaced approximately 45 days apart) in order to maintain a barrier and keep these pests away.
How to Pay for Pest Control
Now that you better understand these services and what they can offer, let’s talk about how to pay for them. At Joshua Tree, we offer 3 different pricing models so that you have options and can pick the method that is best for you.
Prepay for the Entire Year
The first way that you can pay for pest control services is to prepay for the entire year. A lot of people like the option of paying a one-time fee and not having to worry about it again. You’ll know you’re covered for the year ahead. For many, that gives peace of mind if it’s a financially feasible option for them.
At Joshua Tree, we also provide a 5% discount to those who prepay for the entire year so there’s a financial incentive to this pest control payment method as well.
Quarterly Payments
Joshua Tree’s structural pest control program is a quarterly program (which is the industry standard for this type of pest control) and therefore we also give homeowners the option of paying quarterly after each visit. Usually, we keep a credit card or an ACH routing number on file and can invoice clients after they’ve received the service.
Monthly Payments (“Budget Billing”)
Although structural pest control is a quarterly (not monthly) service, we understand that a lot of homeowners have a monthly budget and prefer to have this service broken out over monthly installments. We call this our “budget billing” option.
Monthly pest control prices at Joshua Tree start at $37 per month for our Quarterly Pest Control program.
We also offer Mosquito, Flea, and Tick control which starts at $28 per month and we have the Pest Shield Combo program which combines both of these services. This starts at $58 per month, allowing you to save 10% off of regular prices by bundling the two.
How Much Does Pest Control Cost in the Lehigh Valley?
Whenever you are comparing costs of services, you’ll find that prices can differ dramatically. What you really need to do is weigh the value that you are getting for your investment. There are always going to be a lot of factors that impact cost from company size to the products used.
At Joshua Tree, we “fall in the middle. Although there are some big, national companies, including those that are part of the franchise system, there are also some really small pest control services out there. But we are a mid-sized company and feel like this benefits our clients in many ways. We’re not a huge franchise where you feel like you’re just a number. But we’re also not so tiny that you can never reach someone and there seems to be major staffing challenges. We invest in high-quality products and training so that we can offer superb value with our pest control services.
Our mid-range pricing is in line with being a mid-sized company. We deliver a tremendous amount of value while still being affordable.
Choosing the Best Pest Control in the Lehigh Valley
When it comes to choosing the best pest control in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA we don’t advise that you shop on pest control prices alone. Shopping solely on price is always a dangerous endeavor as it doesn’t take into account many important factors such as qualifications, training, or even what additional services the company can offer you.
Your choice in pest control companies is an important one. By choosing wisely you’ll ensure that you receive the services that you expect and avoid some of the horror stories you might be fretting about—such as investing in pest control only to wind up with an infestation because it didn’t work.
If we can answer any questions that would help make your decision-making process easier, just let us know. No matter who you end up choosing, we want you to feel as though you made an educated choice that is going to fully meet all of your needs.
If you're interested in learning more about pest control services for your Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA home, contact us for a free pest control quote or give us a call at 610-365-2200 so that we can answer your questions.
