Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
No matter where you live, pests are a fact of life and them is a bother. Without a pest control treatment plan in place, the chance of severe infestation is high.
We take pest control seriously. That’s why the team at Today's Homeowner has done the homework and put together this list of the top pest control companies in Oakland for you. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
Positive customer service reviews
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Proactive solutions for pest control
Lack of hidden fees
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Lack of hidden fees
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Free inspections
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Reviews praise customer service
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Reliable appointment windows
Transparent pricing
Free inspections
Commitment to customer education
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Consistently high customer service reviews
Educational web content
Proactive approach to pest control
Transparent pricing
Punctual arrival
Services Offered
Preventative pest control services
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Transparent pricing
No-cost inspections
Positive customer service reviews
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Services Offered
Commitment to customer education
Positive customer service reviews
No-cost inspections
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
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:
We've narrowed down the top pest control companies to help you find the right provider for you. We assessed customer reviews, state availability, costs, pest control treatments offered, contracts, and more.
Here’s how the top providers ranked:
Founded in 1927, Terminix has almost 100 years of experience in the pest control industry. Terminix has received numerous awards for its service, including Pest Control Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Pest Control Companies, The Business Journal’s FAST 50, and NCPMA’s Technician of the Year.
Terminix deals with all kinds of pest issues for homeowners and business owners. These include roaches, ants, spiders, rodents, termites, opossums, and raccoons. In addition to pest control, Terminix has services, such as moisture control, home disinfection services, attic insulation, and mechanical exclusion.
If you need quick pest control service in Oakland, consider Orkin. Since 1901, Orkin has grown to be one of the largest pest control companies in the country. It has great consumer reviews and well-trained pest control specialists who all complete 160 hours of training.
Pests Orkin helps with includes moths, centipedes, rats, hornets, termites, wasps, earwigs, carpenter ants, spiders, crickets, and more. After the first treatment, your Orkin exterminator will follow up to make sure the pests haven’t returned. If they have, your local technicians can assist.
Founded in 1925, Rentokil has almost a century’s worth of experience handling pests. In North America, Rentokil is the parent company of quite a few regional pest control providers like Presto-X, J.C. Ehrlich, and Western Exterminator.
It exterminates 36 of the most common pests such as rats, flies, moths, spiders, mice, bed bugs, cockroaches, and more. After the initial inspection and treatment of your property, a technician will return to your property every quarter.
Not all pest control services are the same when it comes to reputation, qualifications, and capability. It's important to do your research to determine the ideal option for your specific pest problem. Here are the key factors to consider when selecting a pest control company:
It's best to choose a pest control company that can effectively address your specific problem, whether it's roaches, bed bugs, termites, rodents, or something else. The company should have clearly laid out its expertise with your specific pest.
Look for pest control companies that employ technicians with certifications in pest control methods from qualified industry groups, such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), in addition to state licensing. Having the proper credentials indicates that the technicians have received adequate training. Also ask about regular training updates.
Look through reviews on Google, Yelp, and similar sites prior to scheduling a pest control appointment. Confirm through customer feedback that the company reliably provides effective service and a positive customer experience. Also check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints that have been filed. Ask whether technicians receive ongoing education on the most cutting-edge pest control treatments. When you select a provider from our list of Oakland's best pest control, you can feel confident knowing that you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
Homeowners who want natural, eco-friendly pest control should look for providers that specialize in “green” accredited solutions. You can also ask about humane catch and release methods for larger pests like mice or other burrowing rodents. However, 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. No matter your approach to pest control, any pesticides (besides those classified as minimal risk) must be registered with the EPA.
Quality pest control companies typically offer service guarantees for ongoing plans. The guarantees mean the provider will make another visit and re-treat at no cost if you still have pests in your home after the initial visit. One-time treatments don't typically include reservice guarantees.
After choosing your top exterminators, reach out to each one with questions such as these:
Analyze potential pest control companies based on their answers to these questions. This will allow you to pick the right provider to effectively solve your pest problem at a reasonable cost.
There are various types of pests in Oakland, ranging from harmless annoyances to disease-carrying insects. We analyzed around 10 million online discussions to uncover the most common pests infesting local homes.
The best pest control providers are Terminix and Orkin. They cover all common pests, have many locations, and have been in business for several decades.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is getting a pest control company to come to your home once every quarter or every two to three months. Regularly spraying your property will stop insects and animals from returning.
Chemicals used in pest control are safe but have to be handled by a professional. If you have any questions or concerns about the safety of the chemicals — such as if they're safe around children and pets — and how long you should stay out of your house after using them, you can ask the exterminator. Generally, you should stay away from your home for two to four hours after spraying.
To find the best pest control company for you, the key is to take time to research your options thoroughly. We recommend obtaining estimates from several companies and looking at reviews to help determine which company is the right one for you.
In a big city like Oakland, where the cost of living is remarkably high compared to other cities, the cost of pest control is most likely a concern. The cost of pest control depends on several factors, including what kind of pests are infesting your home and how bad the infestation is. A single visit can cost between $300 and $500, but a quarterly treatment plan is generally cheaper — around $100 to $300 a visit.
For apartments and homes, quarterly or even bi-monthly pest control treatments are advisable. If you have a more serious infestation, however, you may need to get monthly treatments for a few months until the issue is resolved.
