Western Exterminator has worked for over 95 years to become the go-to local pest control company in the Southwest and on the Pacific coast. Offering a full menu of pest control services and specializing in the pest problems of most concern in their region, Western stands with its nationally known competitors in offering quality, professional service, which is why we’ve selected them as the Best Regional pest control company for the West Coast for 2013.
Western Exterminator has been in operation since 1921, and this unified company now operates over 60 locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. As a part of the Rentokil family, Western Exterminator can access the training and opportunity and industry knowledge of that pest control powerhouse, but the company also provides solid customer service, with a dedicated line that makes them easy to reach by phone, e-mail, and internet chat.
Company has a tight focus on pests common to its regional service area.
Company doesn’t fully cover all areas of the states in its region.
Western Exterminator takes on a large list of pests, including:
Western Exterminator will come out and inspect your home entirely for free. The technician will then develop a personalized pest protection plan for your home based on what they have found and present it to you.
Western Exterminator uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system to address pest issues, a system which concentrates on proactive pest prevention and targeted solutions in order to reduce the impact of pesticides on the environment.
Western Exterminator provides training to every technician that joins their team, regardless of their experience level, to ensure that they are fully up-to-speed with IPM strategies and the latest methods for pest eradication. In addition to classroom instruction and basic training, the company emphasizes a “train as you work” model so that technicians learn in real-life situations what they need to do.
Western Exterminator also provides fumigation services, drain line services, air curtain systems, crawl space restoration, micro-sanitation, and minor construction.
Western Exterminator offers free inspections and a targeted IPM approach.
Western seems to show a slightly lower commitment to technician training than some of its competitors.
A Word About Reviews
It can be difficult to judge pest control companies using online reviews: negative reviews tend to outnumber positive reviews for all companies. But looking at negative and positive reviews can give consumers some idea of the trends in a company’s performance.
Some of Western Exterminator’s customers took to the web to rave about how wonderful their service was, but a few others were frustrated by their experience. Overall, however, most customers in online forums were satisfied with the service offered by the company.
Across the board, people wrote that their technicians were on time and easy to work with.
I’m glad I choose Western Exterminator Company for my rodent problem. Mike Williams is a great exterminator. He’s punctual, patient, polite, professional, and prepared for the job. My quote was reasonable and the service was excellent. I recommend Western Exterminator Company for rodent control.
There were a few negative comments about Western Exterminator’s persistence, and some reviewers shared a concern over the thoroughness of the work done. At the same time, however, it’s clear that Western does take steps to resolve issues of persistence with their clients.
Western Exterminator came back, went above and beyond the call to fix things, didn’t charge us for it, and they really were sincere about making sure they solved our problem.
Some customers did express concern about the effectiveness of Western’s treatments, but again, the company did seem willing to correct problems as needed.
High number of positive reviews reflects a willingness to go the extra step for customers.
Some customers expressed concerns over the effectiveness and thoroughness of Western’s treatments.
Cost comparisons can be hard to do in the pest control industry: even across a single region, pest problems can vary depending on the type of property and the pest involved. You can, however, take stock of some standard ways companies empower their buyers to do their own cost comparison and keep their expenses down.
As noted above, Western provides free inspections for all pest control matters and will come to investigate all areas of your house, including hard-to-reach places like attics and chimneys, a practice that allows consumers to comparison shop among their local pest control companies.
Western does offer a retreatment guarantee—and their reviews indicate that they’re willing to fix problems created by ineffective treatment, if necessary—but they only offer your money back if you’re a customer on Western’s Pest365 service, which causes them to lose a few points from us.
Unlike some other companies that insist that you pay for four yearly treatments, Western Exterminators does not force you to buy an annual contract. Allowing you to be flexible in your purchasing options, and allowing you to book a one-time service for a special occasion like a wedding or a barbecue.
Offers a thorough initial inspection free of charge.
No money-back guarantee for customers not using their Pest365 service.
