Pest Management Professional, May 2014
MODELS CLIENT COOPERATION SENSORS CONTRACTS HEAT SOPS ERRORS OMISSIONS REMOTE LAWSUITS CIMEX LECTULARIUS RAPID PCR PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA LIA BIL ITY MORBIDITY ECTO PARASITE REFUGIA PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING ELIMINATION PLAINTIFFS BUSINESS COMMUNICATION INSURANCE INSPECTIONS RATE CARDS SUBPOENAS INCOMPETENT BUGS BED CIMICOSIS BED BUG UPDATE Lessons Learned 1 Do your homework David Harmon president of Woods Pest Control Redding Calif cites this example of taking for granted the scope of a job Our techs were unaware of the extent of a longstanding infestation and assumed the basics of a normal moderate bed bug job would be enough to control a severe infestation Underestimating the extent of an infestation will affect your bottom line Learn as much as possible before bidding a job and if the customer comments about the cost explain that a reputable contractor always makes certain the job is done right Take into account when another company has already worked on an infestation without success The treatment methods and materials used must be considered as part of your strategy Understanding what was tried before can save you time and money while helping you achieve a successful outcome Was the previous treatment unsuccessful due to the other contractors failure to follow protocols or the failure of the client to comply with requirements Ask questions to learn as much as possible about an infestation When was the infestation discovered Where Has there been any previous treatment If so who did it and when What was done What chemicals were used The more you know the better equipped youll be to eradicate the problem 2 Get it in writing Not getting a signed service agreement before undertaking a job can have serious consequences Ask Grant Williams owner manager of Ultimate Pest Control Eugene Ore One of my hotel customers had a serious bed bug infestation I did all the work and eliminated the problem but the customer refused to pay claiming 1450 for treating three rooms and for providing mattress encasements was too expensive Patrick G Mahoney Contributor Continued on page B5 B3 May 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net Photo iStock com cerobit
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