You schedule an exterminator because something in your home crossed from annoying to unacceptable. Maybe you spotted a roach during a midnight kitchen run. Maybe the dog keeps scratching and you’re finding tiny black dots on the sheets. Or you woke up to the sour smell and pinhead droppings that mean mice have set up shop. The first visit from a pest control company tends to set the tone for everything that follows, and it is more thorough than most people anticipate. If you know what happens and why, you can prepare the space, ask sharper questions, and get better results from the start.
The first conversation happens before anyone knocks
A good exterminator company uses the initial call to gather clues. Expect questions about what you’ve seen, when you first noticed it, where activity seems worst, whether anyone has been bitten, and what you have already tried. If you have pets or small children, say so early. The technician selects materials and equipment based on risk, severity, and access, and that pre-visit profile helps them arrive with the right tools.
Be ready to discuss allergies, respiratory sensitivities, fish tanks, and any recent renovations. Homes that were just weather-sealed or painted may restrict certain treatments. If you tried over-the-counter bombs or dusts, mention the product names if you can. Some consumer products repel pests from treated areas, which can complicate the technician’s plan.
The dispatcher should also give you basic prep instructions. For cockroaches, removing clutter under sinks and clearing counters lets the professional get bait where it matters. For bed bugs, typical prep includes drying linens on high heat, bagging them clean, and pulling beds away from walls. If no one asked you to prepare anything, call back and request a prep list. Preparation is as important as treatment.
Arrival and a walk-through set the stage
Your exterminator will introduce themselves, explain the service type, and outline the process in plain terms. Most reputable pest control service technicians wear photo ID and arrive in a marked vehicle. If they do not, ask for identification. You will sign a service agreement that covers scope and limitations. Read it. It should specify target pests and the number of follow-ups. One visit rarely ends an established infestation, and any contractor promising a one-and-done solution for bed bugs or German roaches is either inexperienced or selling optimism.
The walk-through starts where you first noticed the problem but expands to the structure as a whole. Good technicians move slowly and look high to low: ceiling corners, light fixtures, window tracks, baseboards, behind appliances, under sinks, around plumbing penetrations, attic hatches, and the garage. They use a flashlight and mirror, sometimes an inspection camera for inaccessible voids. They will open cabinets and closet doors. Expect to be asked to move light furniture if needed.
Do not sanitize the story. If you saw roaches in the dishwasher, say so. If you think the ants are coming from a neighbor’s yard, share the hunch. Part of the job is pattern recognition. I once traced a recurring ant trail to a potted lemon tree that moved seasonally between patio and living room. The homeowner had been spraying baseboards but never thought of the citrus pot as a highway. These details save time and chemical.
The inspection is a diagnostic, not a quick glance
A proper inspection is methodical. The exterminator will identify the species, estimate population pressure, and map harborage sites and travel corridors. Identification drives everything. Odorous house ants behave differently from carpenter ants. German roaches prefer tight, warm crevices near moisture and food, while American roaches often travel from sewers and basements. House mice and deer mice require different exclusion strategies and carry different risks.
Expect some or all of the following:
- Monitoring tools like sticky traps or insect monitors placed along edges, under sinks, behind the fridge, and in dark corners. These do more than catch a few pests. They collect data on traffic, which influences treatment focus and helps verify progress at follow-up. Moisture readings around bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Many pests chase water. Elevated humidity behind a dishwasher or under a leaky P-trap can be the engine behind a roach bloom. Flashlight inspection of attic insulation for rodent runways, tunneling, and droppings. If you mention scratching in walls, be ready for the technician to access the attic or crawlspace if safe. Exterior perimeter assessment. This includes weep holes, foundation cracks, siding gaps, damaged door sweeps, torn screens, and tree limbs touching the roof. For rodents, half-inch gaps matter. For ants, even smaller.
If your pest control contractor does not document findings with notes or photos, ask them to. You should know what they found, not just that they found “activity.”
A clear plan, with choices
After inspection, the technician will propose a treatment plan. It should specify techniques and materials, not just generic statements. You should hear which areas will be treated and why, what products are being used, and any alternatives that meet your safety preferences.
For example, a responsible plan for German roaches in a kitchen often emphasizes gel baits and insect growth regulators rather than broad-spectrum baseboard sprays. Baits work because roaches share them through fecal feeding, and they can be placed deep in seams without coating surfaces where people prepare food. If you have asthma, ask for reduced-volatility formulations and crack-and-crevice applications rather than broadcast sprays. For bed bugs, the plan may combine heat treatment with targeted residuals in electrical boxes and baseboards or use a series of chemical-only visits if heat is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
Good pest control companies explain trade-offs. Heat is fast for bed bugs but not always feasible in buildings with sensitive materials or heavy clutter. Baiting for ants may take several days to collapse a colony, but it outperforms sprays that only kill foragers. Rodent control with snap traps eliminates bodies on-site, while anticoagulant baits risk carcasses in inaccessible voids and secondary exposure if misused. You should hear time horizons in realistic terms: roaches improve in 72 hours and keep declining over 2 to 3 weeks, ants may surge temporarily as colonies reorganize, rodents can require weeks of trapping combined with exclusion.
If your exterminator company offers tiers, such as a one-time service, a 30-day retreatment guarantee, or a quarterly pest control service plan, ask what is covered. Some plans exclude bed bugs or fleas. Some include exterior web removal and granular ant control. The cheapest option can cost more in repeat call-backs if the scope is too narrow for your situation.
What treatment actually looks like
People imagine foggers and clouds of chemical. Reality is more surgical. Modern pest control focuses on targeted applications, reduced-risk formulations, and Integrated Pest Management. The technician will usually start inside, then move outside.
Inside the home, expect small dabs of bait, micro-injections into voids, and placements behind or beneath appliances. For roaches, the professional will remove the kick plate from the stove, pull out the fridge if possible, and treat hinge voids of cabinets. They will apply insect growth regulator where roaches harbor, such as in warm motor compartments. They should not spray pantry shelves or open food surfaces. You may be asked to keep pets out of the kitchen for a few hours until products dry.
For ants, the technician may bait trails and place non-repellent spray in precise bands along baseboards where trails pass. Repellent sprays can cause colony budding, which is why professionals avoid them for specific ant species. If you see bait stations, resist the urge to clean them up. They are not crumbs, they are the heart of the plan.
Rodent service starts with sanitation and exclusion, then control. The technician will set snap traps along walls and runways, facing perpendicular to the wall with the trigger side closest to the wall. They will place lockable tamper-resistant bait stations outside, secured and labeled, and may install mechanical devices like one-way doors if a squirrel problem is identified. Expect a talk about sealing entry points with steel wool and copper mesh, replacing door sweeps, and trimming tree limbs. A pest control contractor can perform some exclusion, but complex carpentry or working at height may require a handyman or roofer. If they offer to seal the house for a high add-on fee without detailing each gap, press for specifics and photos.
For bed bugs, chemical-only service https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clements+Pest+Control+Services+Inc/@28.4454186,-81.4321024,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88e77fd38023a889:0x6c9cb8ca77e4d88c!8m2!3d28.4454186!4d-81.4321024!16s%2Fg%2F11n11_16gz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D usually follows a strict route: vacuuming visible bugs and eggs with a HEPA unit, steaming seams and edges, applying residual insecticide to baseboards, bed frames, and furniture joints, and treating outlets with dust where permitted. Heat service requires more logistical staging: heat sensors in multiple rooms, high-capacity heaters, and air movers to eliminate cold spots. You will be asked to remove items that melt or explode, like candles and aerosol cans, and to declutter pathways. Technicians will monitor temperatures and hold lethal ranges for long enough to reach eggs. In multi-family buildings, containment tactics may include sealing gaps around plumbing and installing interceptors under bed legs to monitor.
Fleas often require a two-visit plan, combined with treating pets through your veterinarian. The technician will focus on pet resting spots, baseboards, and carpets using an adulticide plus insect growth regulator. The house must be vacuumed thoroughly before and after, and bag contents disposed of immediately. Skipping the pet treatment means you will chase your tail.
On the exterior, expect perimeter treatment at the foundation, focusing on entry points and harborage, not a casual spray everywhere. For spiders, the pest control service may brush down webs around eaves and apply a residual to soffits and door frames. For ants, they may place baits where trails enter from landscaping and treat nesting sites with a non-repellent. For rodents, they will assess burrows and recommend grading changes or rock barriers. Poorly maintained mulch that stays wet and high against siding is a standing invitation to pests.
Safety, access, and your daily routine
Most modern products used by a licensed exterminator carry low odor and low volatility once dry. In many cases, you can remain in the home during treatment, stepping into another room while work is done. Some situations call for temporary vacating a room or, rarely, the entire home. Aerosol treatments or dusting in confined areas can require you to stay out for a set period, often 30 minutes to a few hours. If anyone in the household is pregnant, very young, elderly, or immunocompromised, tell the technician so they can adjust materials and tactics. Tank fish need aerators turned off and tanks covered during certain treatments. Birds are sensitive to aerosols; move them if possible.
Pets and toddlers go right for bait dots and traps. Expect the technician to place baits in inaccessible locations, use tamper-resistant stations, and recommend gate or crate time. If you work from home, plan for some noise, especially during bed bug heat treatments or when moving appliances.
Cost transparency and what drives price
New customers often ask why a one-time service can range from a modest fee for ants to a substantial invoice for a heavy roach infestation or bed bugs. Three factors dominate: labor time, materials, and follow-up. A two-bedroom apartment with a light ant problem may take 45 minutes and a few dollars in bait. A severe cockroach infestation in a restaurant-adjacent unit with clutter can take two technicians several hours, multiple bait rotations, and return trips. Bed bugs require more specialized equipment, more risk, and more technician time. Add-ons like rodent exclusion, attic sanitation after a mouse infestation, or replacing soiled insulation carry separate costs.
Reputable pest control companies give estimates by pest and structure size, not vague per-spray fees. If the quote is a flat number for “spray the house,” you are paying for volume, not outcomes. Ask for a written plan and warranty terms. Many exterminator companies offer 30 to 60 days for roaches and ants, and specific retreatment windows for bed bugs and fleas.
What you should do before the appointment
Short prep goes a long way, and it reduces the need for disruptive return visits. If your contractor gave specific instructions, follow them first. When guidance is general, use this light-touch checklist.
- Clear access to sinks, baseboards, and appliance edges, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Put away exposed food and dishes, and empty the dishwasher so the technician can inspect it. Tidy floors and reduce clutter under beds and in closets to expose pest travel routes. Secure pets and cover fish tanks as advised, and note any rooms that must remain off-limits. List observations with dates and locations, including photos, to hand to the technician.
If bed bugs are suspected, bag and launder linens on high heat and leave them sealed clean. Do not move infested items from room to room. For rodents, resist stuffing gaps with foam before inspection. Foam alone is a mouse chew toy and hides the size of the opening the technician needs to measure.
What happens right after treatment
The hours and days after service can look worse before they look better. Roaches leave harborage as baits and growth regulators disrupt their biology. You may see more activity for a day or two. Do not spray store-bought killers over bait placements. You will contaminate the bait and lose the cascading effect that starves the colony. Ants may reroute trails or split temporarily, then collapse as the queen consumes bait. A few surviving workers after a week is common, but heavy traffic after two weeks suggests adjustments are needed.
In rodent control, first nights with traps set often produce the most catches. The technician will schedule a follow-up to remove carcasses and reset. If traps are quiet but signs persist, the focus shifts to entry points. Without exclusion, trapping alone becomes a subscription to frustration.
If chemicals were applied, you will be asked to avoid mopping treated baseboards for a set period, often two to four weeks, but you can clean counters and food surfaces as normal once products dry. Keep children and pets away from treated zones until dry. If there is any unusual odor or sensitivity, ventilate and call your pest control contractor for guidance.
Signs of a professional versus a spray-and-pray
The difference between a skilled exterminator and a bucket-and-wand operator shows up in small decisions. Professionals prioritize inspection, explain options, and tailor material choices to pest biology, structure, and household needs. They carry the right bait matrices for the season, rotate actives to avoid resistance in roaches, and avoid repellent products on ant trails. They use enough monitors to track progress and are willing to adjust on follow-up.
A spray-and-pray approach looks fast, loud, and smells like solvent. It hits baseboards in a loop and leaves without addressing harborage, sanitation, or entry points. If your technician refuses to pull a stove base or won’t open sink cabinets, you will get a surface treatment that pests bypass.
Ask your pest control company if their technicians are licensed and what continuing education they complete annually. Many states require credits in specific categories. Good companies invest in training because correct species ID and product placement are not guesswork.
Your role in long-term control
Even the best exterminator service needs a partner on the client side. In multi-unit buildings, neighbors can reintroduce pests. In single-family homes, landscaping and moisture control matter. Keep mulch pulled back a few inches from siding. Fix slow leaks and insulate sweating pipes. Install door sweeps and seal the quarter-inch gap at the garage door that mice consider a welcome mat. Store dog food in sealed containers and feed inside if you can. Clean grease under stove pans and behind the range. Vacuum along baseboards and behind sofas where crumbs and pet hair accumulate. Each small fix removes one leg of the pest survival stool: food, water, shelter.
For commercial spaces, schedule dumpster pickups often enough and maintain lids closed. Grease traps that overflow invite both roaches and rats. Regular communication between your facilities team and the pest control contractor ensures that sanitation and exclusion work moves in step with treatment.
Follow-up visits are part of the design, not a failure
A follow-up is not an admission of defeat. It is how a professional measures results and updates the plan. Expect the second visit to focus on monitors and traps, bait consumption, and the few spots where activity persists. The technician may switch bait flavors if roaches are finicky, add a second bait for ants to cover protein and sugar preferences, or install additional rodent traps in newly discovered runways. They might dust new voids if droppings suggest a hidden path or tweak exterior treatments after heavy rain.
Ask for a snapshot of progress and next steps. Good documentation lists counts from monitors, catches per trap, and photos of sealed entry points. Over two or three visits, these numbers should trend down. If they do not, your contractor should escalate: more precise exclusion, a different chemistry class, or, in rare cases, a structural recommendation like replacing water-damaged cabinets that are acting as roach condos.
When to escalate or change providers
If you do not see measured progress or your concerns are brushed aside, it may be time to change your pest control company. Red flags include repeated broad-spectrum spraying without targeted tactics, refusal to identify species, failure to place monitors, no discussion of sanitation or exclusion, and defensive reactions to reasonable questions. Responsible exterminator companies welcome informed clients. They know that clean data and cooperation make their work easier and outcomes predictable.
On the other hand, give the plan enough time. Expect a visible roach decline in a week, a major drop within three weeks, and near-zero sightings by six to eight weeks for most home infestations when preparation and follow-up are done right. Bed bugs often require two to three visits and careful laundering discipline. Rodents demand both trapping and sealing. If timelines extend past these norms without a clear reason, press for a revised approach.
A few grounded expectations that make everything smoother
- Results track with preparation. Clearing under sinks and decluttering beats any miracle product. Less can be more. Correct bait placement often outperforms gallons of repellent spray. Biology wins. Ant colonies and roach populations have momentum. Interventions need time to disrupt reproduction cycles. Weather matters. Heavy rain can wash away exterior treatments and alter ant trails, which may require a service call. Communication keeps money in your pocket. If you see a new hotspot, take photos and call promptly. Early adjustments are cheaper than starting over.
The first exterminator service appointment is not just the day someone comes to spray. It is an assessment, a plan, and the first move in a short campaign. Measure your provider by how well they listen, how precisely they treat, and how clearly they explain your part. Do that, and the pests begin to lose not with theatrics, but with quiet, disciplined steps that take away their food, water, and shelter until there is no reason for them to be in your home at all.
Clements Pest Control Services Inc
Address: 8600 Commodity Cir Suite 159, Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: (407) 277-7378
Website: https://www.clementspestcontrol.com/central-florida