Ten years ago, professional pest control operators had a significant advantage: access to better products than consumers could buy. That gap has effectively closed. Bifenthrin concentrate, fipronil (Taurus SC), Advion gel bait, CimeXa, Gentrol IGR — every product a professional uses for residential pest control is available to homeowners online at a fraction of the service cost.
The remaining professional advantages are knowledge (species identification, treatment protocols) and labor (they do the work for you). This site exists to close the knowledge gap. The labor is up to you.
Ants: $8 in TERRO bait or $10 in Advion gel eliminates most ant species. Correct species ID + correct bait type = professional results. Our ant ID guide takes 2 minutes.
Cockroaches (single-family homes): The professional cockroach protocol IS gel bait + IGR + CimeXa. These three products cost $35 total and are available at any online pest supply retailer. Our German cockroach protocol walks through every step.
Mice: Snap traps + exclusion. Total cost: $25–40. This is identical to what a professional does — they just charge $200+ for the visit.
Perimeter treatment: A gallon of Bifen IT ($20) treats your home's exterior 3–4 times. Professional quarterly service costs $400–700/year for the same product.
Fleas: Pet treatment + Precor IGR carpet spray + vacuuming. Our flea protocol matches the professional approach at 90% less cost.
Termite treatment: Trenching, drilling through concrete, and applying 200+ gallons of termiticide requires professional equipment and expertise. Plus, the warranty from professional treatment has significant financial value.
Fumigation: Licensed professionals only — sulfuryl fluoride is a restricted-use pesticide requiring certified applicator licensing.
Wildlife: Licensed wildlife operators are required by law for most species.
Multi-unit infestations: Cockroaches or bed bugs in apartments require coordinated, building-wide treatment that individual tenants can't accomplish alone.