How much to kill my bed bugs in Toronto? Who should I hire?
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| How much to kill my bed bugs? |
Much like buying a car, the answer depends on what you get for your money. A recent survey suggests that if you are trying to hire a bed bug exterminator in Toronto you should do your homework. Bed bug extermination costs in Toronto vary according to a number of factors. If you are calling a large company that employs numerous people (secretaries, office staff etc.) you are undoubtedly paying a premium for the extra overhead that they in-turn pass along to you, the consumer.
A person dealing with bed bugs in Toronto should understand that the Federal Government of Canada has only approved a very limited number of pesticides that can be used by ANY company for bed bugs. It doesn't matter how large or small the company is - they can only use those limited products!
So, with that in mind - it would makes sense to hire a smaller, less overhead-burdened company to handle your bed bug problem. But, that's not the whole story.
Procedure is everything!...Read on...
Larger companies, or companies that 'specialize' in bed bug removal in Toronto have certain protocols and procedures in place to ensure that a proper bed bug extermination is completed. In addition, these companies usually have 'policy and procedures' that also ensure your safety. In other words, what you can expect get with a larger company or one that specializes in bed bugs is an organized structure that internally governs how they do the job. In other words, they have checks and balances to ensure quality.
That's not to say that smaller companies don't get it right - simply that your chances of having a thorough job done by a larger or specialized company are better - Much better!
With the mass media coverage of the bed bug problem in Toronto hitting record levels in the past six months, there have been numerous companies - one man start ups - that have hit the market. Be careful not to jump at the lowest price.
Here are some tips to help you choose what type of company you should be looking for - Ask them about the following:
Credentials: Make sure that the company is licensed by the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario
Guarantee: Make sure that the company offers a service guarantee
Accredited: It is always best to deal with a company that is accredited by the Better Business Bureau
Specialization: Find a company that has a proven track record of exterminating bed bugs.
To get rid of bed bugs in Toronto, the pricing structure should be based around what type of home it is. For example, a 5 bedroom house will surely cost more than a bachelor apartment... but how much more?
Bed bug extermination pricing in Toronto, if graphed over the last year, would look like a roller coaster. One year ago the average price for a 4 bedroom home was almost $2000. Today, the average price should be somewhere around $800. Now, as we discussed, not all bed bug treatments are alike!
Your exterminator should include at least two treatments for whatever price they quote to you. This has to do with 'breaking the life-cycle' of the infestation. It is rare indeed for a bed bug problem to be adequately dealt with in only one service!
Make absolutely sure that the company you go with will never leave you hanging. Meaning, make sure they offer a written service guarantee - no company can guarantee that you're bed bugs will be gone in a certain length of time - no company can do that! Bed bugs are simply too unpredictable an insect for that to be genuine. What you should look for is a company that will guarantee that they will come back if you need them to and utilize different methods of extermination specific to your particular situation. This is referred to as IPM or Integrated Pest Management.
Beware of the guy that tells you that "one treatment should do it" or "...you don't need a written guarantee - I'll come back, trust me..." If you hear comments similar to this - move on!
At the very least, make sure the company you hire is BBB accredited! The Better Business Bureau hold companies to the highest ethical and moral business practices standards. The vetting process is intense and regular checks are done by the BBB on their accredited companies to ensure that those standards are constantly being met. Any bed bug exterminator you hire should be accredited by the BBB!
Pricing: Our latest research shows a sampling as follows:
4 Bedroom house, full treatment including steam as necessary:
Orkin $1,600 http://www.orkincanada.ca/
Toronto Exterminator.ca $799 http://www.torontoexterminator.ca/
Bed bug detection dogs Toronto
In addition, often times it may be important to have a proper bed bug inspection performed in your home or business - hotel - apartment etc. There are a number of bed bug dog detection companies that offer bed bug detection / inspection services using specially trained bed bug dogs in Toronto. It's a great idea that is proving very effective in detecting bed bugs. A bed bug dog can find even one bed bug or egg in a room, quickly and effectively. If you're not sure that you have bed bugs, best to call in the dogs. The price should not cost more than around $400 for a multi-bedroom house, seems expensive but it's well worth it! In any event, if you are considering hiring a bed bug dog in Toronto make sure they are NESDCA certified - this is the highest certification that can be obtained by a bed bug dog detection team.
To summarize, you should go with a company that specializes in bed bugs extermination. They should be willing to spend some time with you on the phone and in person discussing your bed bug problem when they arrive. They should utilize IPM or Integrated Pest Management (different methods) to solve your bed bug problem. Appropriate pesticide application, steaming, dusting and vacuuming should do the trick.
