Turn the route into proof
What happens on the first Apex visit
Eight steps, in the order the technician does them, with the reasons behind each. The same sequence runs at every home, from a first visit on the maintenance program to a one-time treatment. The last step is the one the company is named for.
Interview: why did you call, what have you seen, where
The technician asks why you called, what you have seen, and where. Ants in the bathroom after a heat wave and ants in the kitchen after the first rain are the same pest with different answers.
Tour the house and walk the property
Inside and out, high and low. Branches touching the roof, leaf-filled gutters, moisture, litter against the foundation, exterior lighting and entry gaps often explain the activity better than the sighting does.
Identify the pest and the conditions behind it
Species matters. A German cockroach in the kitchen is a different job from the big outdoor American and Oriental roaches in the garage.
Targeted interior treatment where activity is, with low-odor products
Where the activity is, with products that are extremely low odor at most homes. The interior is treated on the initial visit; at most homes it needs retreatment less than once a year.
Exterior barrier: foundation, garage, windows and doorways, first floor eaves, fence lines, yard areas
Foundation, garage, around windows and doorways, under the first-floor eaves, fence lines and the yard areas around the home. On rainy days a granular product that withstands up to four inches of rain goes around the base.
Spider web removal
Webs come down on every visit, not only the first. It is the most visible part of the service and one of the reasons spider control is a maintenance job rather than a one-time fix.
Recommendations the homeowner can act on (gaps, litter, branches, lighting, moisture)
Trim limbs off the house, close gaps, rake organic litter and hedge clippings back from the foundation, do not leave pet food outside, and keep outdoor lights off when they are not needed.
Around the house
The route, drawn.
Foundation, garage, windows and doorways, first-floor eaves, fence lines and yard. The technician comes in at the one side gate, works the foundation the whole way around, then comes back out along the fence line. The side yard is the part of the walk most services skip, and the part where problems get found.
“The difference between a good service and a great service is probably less than five minutes.”
- In at the one side gate
- The tree touching the gutter
- The back fence line
- Out along the fence line
- The garage corner
- Entry, porch and driveway
After the first visit
Follow-ups, callbacks, and what regular visits include.
Regular visits
Exterior re-treatment to reinforce the barrier and spider web removal; missed areas (locked gate, loose dog) get a note and a reschedule at no extra cost. You do not need to be home.
Callbacks
Continuing maintenance customers in good standing get return visits at no additional charge for any contracted pest problem between regular service dates, and the technician keeps returning until the problem is solved to complete satisfaction. Troublesome pest issues may require a supervisor's input.
Rain days
On rainy or saturated days a granular product that withstands up to four inches of rain goes around the base of the home, and liquid goes on protected areas such as eaves and covered entries.
Real reviews, unedited
First visits, as customers described them
“On time meet up for first treatment. The tech went over what he would do and treat, and then went to work killing bugs.”
“Alex was a pleasure to meet. He told me what to expect, asked if there were any problem areas or specific concerns. He was also sure to ask about pets AND to meet them.”
“They showed up right on time and were professional and polite. They answered all my questions and listened to my concerns. We felt they were thorough with their inspection and took their time.”
Reviews are quoted exactly as written. More reviews
First-visit questions
What to expect, answered
Do I need to be home for the first visit?
Yes, for the first one, because it starts with an interview and includes the interior. Regular visits after that treat the exterior and do not need you home; a locked gate or a loose dog gets a note and a free reschedule.
How long does the first visit take?
It depends on the home and the problem, and the office will not promise a time it cannot control. The interview, the walk, the interior and the exterior barrier are all done before the technician leaves, and the visit ends with recommendations rather than a dash to the truck.
What should I do before the technician arrives?
Nothing elaborate for most pests. For an indoor German cockroach problem, the kitchen has to be cleaned and the cabinets emptied first, and the office will tell you that when you book. Pets should be inside or contained so the technician can meet them and treat the yard.
How long do pets stay off treated areas?
Follow the label guidance the technician gives you for the product used that day. Treated areas stay off limits until dry, and drying time changes with the weather, so there is no single waiting period that fits every product.
What happens after the first visit?
On the maintenance program, exterior visits follow bi-monthly, with web removal every time. If a covered pest shows up between visits, maintenance customers in good standing get a callback at no additional charge. The goal is to reach the home within 24 hours of the call.
Is a one-time visit the same as the first visit of a program?
The work is similar; the difference is what comes after. A one-time visit is a single treatment around the barrier of the home, recommended honestly when it fits, such as fleas after a pet is gone or a move-out. For spiders and recurring ants it is usually a bandage.
Next step
Book the first visit.
Call with your square footage and what you have been seeing. The office quotes by phone, and the technician who comes out follows the eight steps above.
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.