Dealing Effectively With Homeowners

There are more than 600 ant species. Fortunately, only a fraction of them are structural pests. Unfortunately, they all look alike to most homeowners.

Though your customer may not be able to identify the species that has invaded, there are several ways to treat the problem. They range from the use of products that simultaneously treat many different ant species to educational practices that can teach industrial and residential customers how to prevent future infestations.

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. There are numerous ant control products in the marketplace, but only a few that work together to effectively treat infestations found in and around all types of structures, including houses, apartment buildings, warehouses, stores, schools, and food processing and storage facilities. In fact, the best ant treatments combine the strengths of several products, not only to kill visible ants and the hidden colonies that produce them, but also to form a protective barrier to prevent additional ant infestations.

• Outdoor Protection. As new insecticides become available in the marketplace, many operators are reassessing pest control efforts to include perimeter treatment strategies. Applied in spray form to bands of soil and vegetation surrounding the structure, this treatment supplies a 6- to 10-foot barrier that effectively protects the building from infestation for up to three months. In fact, this method has proven so effective that many PCOs have contracted with customers to continue the treatment on a quarterly basis or seasonal schedule, depending on the geographic locale.
• Indoor Protection. In addition to the application of spray insecticides to baseboards, doors, windows and crawl spaces, ant bait stations have proven highly effective for eliminating visible infestations, as well as the colonies that produce them.

Effective against a broad spectrum of ants, ant baits provide foraging ants with a food source that is returned and shared with entire ant colonies. In this way, the full colonies, including the egg-laying queens, pupae, larvae, and adult ants, can be wiped out in a matter of days.

EDUCATING CUSTOMERS. Despite your level of expertise and the potency of the products you use, the uneducated customer can still be your greatest challenge. This is because few customers are aware of the basic preventive measures that can help reduce the possibility of reinfestations after your visit.

However, there are several things you can do to aid customers and reduce callbacks. They include providing customers with educational materials during service calls that offer in-depth instructions on how to eliminate future infestations.

It is also important to create the proper expectations for customers. They should be informed that while you have treated the premises and set baits, ants will be visible for a few days after the treatment. Encourage them to call you if the problem is not resolved after a few days.

• Educational Materials. To let customers know that your services are readily available, send them educational materials prior to the onset of increased ant infestations. Information such as homeowner brochures will enable them to better understand treatment options and steps they can take to prevent problems. The better that customers understand the job and the PCO, the more helpful they can be during the treatment process.
• In-depth Instructions. The initial visit is more than just a service call. It is an opportunity to create a relationship with that customer. Earning their loyalty can offer a lifetime of rewards and referrals.

Start treating your customers like partners and you're likely to find that they will respond with longtime support. Here are some pest control tips that you can offer to customers as a way of earning their confidence:

• Keep tree branches from touching the house, because they can provide pathways for ants to enter homes.
• Deny access to the house by sealing entry points, such as where electrical lines and piping enter the structure.
• Listen for faint rustling sounds heard form walls, floors or woodwork. These noises may be made from uninvited guests such as ants.

Of course, there are some procedures that only a trained and qualified pest control professiona ould undertake. The following actions should be part of the initial visit, and should be explained to the customer:

• To locate ant colonies outdoors, thoroughly inspect structures and grounds for residual sawdust and anthills, which are indicative of ant infestations.
• Use sticky traps to catch exploring ants and other pests, such as spiders and cockroaches.

Remedying ant infestation problems can be a relatively simple task, given the depth of products and services available to both pest control professionals and their customers.