Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Like any other city, those living in Oakland commonly see their fair share of pests in their home. If the issue isn’t solved quickly, you could have an infestation on your hands. This is why acting the moment you see the pests, and also arranging routine pest control, is important.
There are plenty of exterminators to select from, which makes finding the best one for your family a challenge. For that reason, we’ve put together a guide on the best pest control companies in Oakland. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Reviews praise customer service
Lack of hidden fees
Proactive solutions for pest control
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Educational web content
Transparent pricing
Positive customer service reviews
Services Offered
Consistently high customer service reviews
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Transparent pricing
Proactive solutions for pest control
Free inspections
Services Offered
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Free inspection policy
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Free inspection policy
Lack of hidden fees
Proactive approach to pest control
Positive customer service reviews
Educational web content
Services Offered
Free inspection policy
Proactive solutions for pest control
Consistently high customer service reviews
Transparent pricing
Timeliness of service
Educational web content
Services Offered
Positive customer service reviews
Transparent pricing
Free inspection policy
Commitment to customer education
Punctuality
Services Offered
Lack of hidden fees
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Proactive approach to pest control
Free inspections
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Transparent pricing
Punctual arrival
Proactive solutions for pest control
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Commitment to customer education
Free inspection policy
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on pest control companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
When ranking these pest control companies, we compared factors like coverage, industry experience, types of pest control treatments offered, customer service, and more.
Here’s how Oakland’s top companies ranked:
Terminix has several hundred branches in over 22 countries and has been in business for over 90 years. The company provides effective pest control services that are safe for your family and pets.
Terminix exterminates all types of pest problems for homeowners and business owners. These include spiders, termites, rodents, raccoons, ants, opossums, and roaches. Terminix’s general pest regimen consists of a home inspection and preliminary treatment, followed by three additional treatments during the year.
Orkin has more than 100 years of experience in the industry and is one of the most reputable pest control companies in the country. It has positive consumer reviews and skilled exterminators who all complete 160 hours of training.
Orkin’s most common pest control plan is its annual pest control contract. After the first visit, your pest control specialist will follow up regularly to ensure that the pests have not returned. If they have, your local technicians can help
Rentokil is a respected name in pest control, with branches across the world and nearly a century of experience in the industry. This large service group is the parent company of several top regional pest control providers in North America. These include J.C. Ehrlich, Western Exterminator, and Presto-X.
Rentokil can help you with the common pests in Oakland, including ants, wasps, crickets, moths, flies, mosquitoes, bees, spiders, cockroaches, and bed bugs. Rentokil’s services cover preventative maintenance, treatment, and monitoring for pest infestations.
Pest control companies aren't all equal when it comes to reputation, knowledge, and competence. It’s important to research companies to find the right one for your specific situation. Focus on these key factors when hiring a pest control professional:
Look for a pest control company that has extensive experience treating the type of pest you're dealing with, whether it's bed bugs, termites, roaches, rodents, or something else. The company should thoroughly describe on their website its area of expertise.
The ideal exterminator will employ technicians that have state licenses and are certified in pest control methods by associations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). These credentials show that the technicians have received proper training. You'll also want to ask each company about regular education updates for their employees.
Look through reviews on Google, Yelp, and similar sites prior to scheduling a pest control appointment. Verify for yourself that the company reliably provides effective service and receives positive customer feedback. Also check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints that have been filed. Ask whether technicians receive continuing regular education on the most cutting-edge pest control treatments. When you choose a professional from our list of the top pest control in Oakland, you can rest easy knowing you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
Homeowners who want natural, eco-friendly pest control should look for services that use “green” certified solutions. You can also ask about humane catch and release methods for larger pests like mice or squirrels in your attic. Keep in mind that natural options may be less effective for serious infestations, and if you’re dealing with a major pest problem you may need stronger traditional methods. Regardless of what methods you choose, any pesticides (besides those classified as minimal risk) must be registered with the EPA.
Quality pest control companies typically offer service guarantees for recurring plans. The guarantees mean the provider will return and re-treat for free if you still have pests in your home following the initial treatment. One-time treatments don't typically include reservice guarantees.
Once you have reduced your options to your top pest control providers, contact each one to ask questions such as:
Take the time to thoroughly analyze pest control companies using these questions. This will allow you to choose the best provider to effectively manage your pest situation at a fair price.
Oakland is home to various pests, from insects to wildlife. We studied around 10 million social media conversations to identify which pests were causing the most trouble for residents.
The best pest control companies are Orkin and Terminix. They can treat all common pests, service many locations, and have been in business for several decades.
Hiring a pest control company and getting a professional to spray your property once every quarter is the best way to prevent future pest infestations. This deters insects and other wildlife from coming inside your home.
For the most part, the chemicals used in pest control are safe. Even so, they need to be handled by a professional exterminator to ensure they’re used properly. After your house has been sprayed, your exterminator will recommend staying out of your home for a certain amount of time. This is generally 2 to 4 hours, but can be a maximum of 24 hours.
A pest control company gets rid of unwanted bugs or animals that have infested a property. Pest control also consists of preventative measures taken to help stop those pests from coming back, which can happen at any point in Oakland, but usually during the warm summers.
Many Oakland homeowners are concerned about the cost of pest control. Monthly pest control typically costs $40 to $70 per visit. Quarterly pest control costs about $110 to $250 a visit. To figure out exactly how much it will cost for you, we recommend contacting several companies for an estimate.
Spring is the best time for preventative pest control. This is because nests and colony numbers will get much higher as it gets warmer, so spraying in the spring can help prevent you from getting too many pests later.
