Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for pest control companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Presto Pest Control, Inc., the best way to keep clients happy is to listen closely to their needs and put plans in place that effectively solve their problems. “Our customers appreciate us because we go above and beyond to help them,” says owner Jim Rossi. “By allocating enough time to their jobs and utilizing our experience, we’re able to provide the highest level of quality service.”

Presto Pest Control offers a variety of pest control services to residential and commercial clients in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Alameda Counties. In addition to eradicating everything from bedbugs and termites to rodents and raccoons, the company specializes in providing emergency pest treatment plans for restaurants and other commercial establishments that require fast turnaround times.

Unlike pest control companies that often rush through jobs in order to increase their workload volume, Presto Pest Control focuses on doing each job correctly and using products that ensure the best possible results. “We combine top-quality physical and chemical products, which is more expensive, but it’s also much more effective,” explains Mr. Rossi. “Our goal is to resolve every problem correctly the first time. We rarely have to return to a job to redo our work.”

Ultimately, Mr. Rossi sees Presto Pest Control’s status as a local, independently owned business as one of its most important attributes. “We can buy the best equipment and chemicals and determine how to best apply them, which isn’t always the case with franchises and big corporations,” he says. “In fact, many national chains have strict protocols and inflexible policies that don’t allow them to tailor their services to meet their customers’ needs. This can lead to failed treatments and expensive return visits. We make sure our treatments fit our clients’ particular situations. We want them to have great experiences and be satisfied that we resolved their problems.”

If you’re having pest problems, consider hiring a local company for the best service and results.

You probably know the names of several nationwide pest control companies. These corporations operate franchises across the United States, offering pest control services through TV, radio and print advertisements. But experts say there are downsides to choosing these types of companies. In fact, if you hire a pest control company based on name recognition alone, you might pay more in terms of long-term contracts, quality, return visits and response time. Here are some advantages of working with a local pest control company:

Avoid long-term contracts. Many chains require long-term contracts that lock homeowners into certain services. While contracts can be convenient, the terms can cause stress and financial pressure for people who don’t need reoccurring service. Instead, a local pest control company that offers regularly scheduled services and no-pressure contracts may be a better choice.

Get high-quality service. “One of the biggest challenges in this industry is the lack of technicians,” says Jim Rossi, owner of Presto Pest Control, Inc. in San Jose. “Some national companies hire other companies to perform their services. They advertise low prices and bring in technicians from other areas, but those people aren’t making a living wage, so they tend to rush through jobs and they aren’t very reliable.” In contrast, local pest control companies can tailor their services and prices to their communities, which benefits consumers, employees and the local economy.

Prevent return visits. Local companies are in charge of their own products and services. “A local pest control company can buy the best equipment and chemicals and determine how to best apply them,” explains Mr. Rossi. “On the other hand, large national chains usually can’t adapt their services to meet their customers’ needs, which can result in unsuccessful treatments and return visits.”

Get faster response time. When you call a national chain, you often talk to a switchboard operator whose main job is scheduling. If you have questions or concerns, you might have to wait for a return call. Conversely, when you call a local pest control company, you’re talking directly to the company, so you can get immediate service that fits your needs and schedule.

Q: What types of pests do you treat?

A: We exterminate and remove wildlife, rodents, bedbugs, ants, spiders, cockroaches, fleas, bee swarms, wasps, birds, and termites. We also provide pest and disease control for trees and shrubs.

Q: Are the chemicals you use safe and pet-friendly?

A: All the chemicals we use are approved by Prop 65 for California use. They’re safe when applied in the correct amounts, and we try to use the least toxic amount of pesticide needed to solve the problem. The chemicals are usually mixed with water for application, so when we apply them to an area or structure and they dry, they’re totally safe.

Q: How soon can you come to my home or business?

A: We can usually be there on the same day or the next day. That’s a big difference between us and larger companies—we can provide quality service right away.

Q: How should I prepare for my pest control treatment?

A: It depends on the type of pest we’re treating for. We’ll give you a PDF prep sheet that will answer all of your questions before we show up for the service.

Q: Do you charge for inspections?

A: We charge $100 for inspections, but that fee is reimbursable if you decide to hire us.

Q: Can you tell me how to treat my own pest problems?

A: Yes. During your inspection, we’ll tell you what products to buy, how to apply them and how frequently you should use them. We’ll explain your pest issue and go over the conditions that created it. The entire fee for that service is $100. We also have a tip section on our website if you don’t want to commit to an inspection.