Anyone who has scheduled a pest inspection for the first time – or is thinking of scheduling one – will know that one of the big questions when doing so is how often a pest inspection should be carried out. And it is one of those questions that has no fixed answer because there are a number of factors to consider that will dictate the frequency, including whether it is a commercial pest inspection, or a residential pest inspection.
Residential Pest Inspection
Two factors that have considerable impact on the frequency of residential pest inspections are the age of your home, along with the location of your home. Older homes aren’t always constructed using materials or methods that make them less appealing to pests, and in some instances have also had time to develop an uncontrolled pest problem. At the same time, some areas are more prone to certain pests, particularly termites, and if you home is located in an area with known pest problems, you may find one of our pest control technicians recommending more frequent inspections. However, any home-owner – regardless of the property age or location – could end up with one of our pest control technicians recommending more frequent pest inspections, since the nature of any pest problem is another contributing factor. Ideally a pest inspection should be scheduled at least every 12 months, but when our technicians encounter a severe pest problem, not only termites, they may recommend a follow-up inspection 3-4 weeks after the first visit, with further follow-up inspections every 3-6 months. They will always provide you with recommended steps you can take to prevent a recurrence of your pest problem, which may include sealing off holes, cracks, and other entry points that pests can use, along with how to monitor for further pest problems yourself. But for certain pest problems, a professional follow-up inspection is always recommended.
Relocating a beehive or family of possums usually eliminates that pest problem indefinitely, but pests such as cockroaches, ants, spiders, along with rats and mice, can require several inspections and control visits to eliminate, or at least make more manageable.
Commercial Pest Inspection
Business requirements for pest inspection are a lot different to residential pest inspection, particularly if your business involves selling and/or food preparation. Having a pest problem in your business could not only damage your reputation, but also end up being quite costly with regards to having to destroy food supplies due to contamination. Which is why a commercial pest inspection will not only include identifying the nature of any pest problem, but also a recommendation for a pest control management schedule to ensure your business remains pest free. Depending on the nature of your business, and the type of pest problems it could be exposed to, you should expect anything from weekly to quarterly inspections, with annual pest inspections only recommended under certain circumstances.
For business owners, the cost of regular pest inspections is far more manageable than the cost of lost business and stock, while for home-owners it can become more affordable when any steps recommended by pest control technicians are followed, in order to reduce or prevent future pest problems, which would mean being able to schedule an annual pest inspection, rather than every 3-6 months.