Doing professional pest control can be very expensive. You might think that all you need is a hand held sprayer and a truck but there is so much more. Dusting equipment, baits guns, foggers and spray rigs are only a partial list of basic tools which can run into the thousands already. Now that you have all those fancy application tools you need the products that they apply and that usually comes with a nice price tag as well. Still after going to all this expense there are just a few items I might suggest that will help you do your job as a pest pro so much better and give you a competitive edge. The nice thing about this list is that it can all be purchased for under $6.00 if you know where to shop. I find these tools at flea markets or tool outlet stores and one I make on my computer.
#1 L.E.D. mini flash light. This sweet little light is fast taking the place of the mini mag light. The beam doesn’t go a long distance but it can flood the under side of a sink with bright light so you can see exactly what you’re treating. Conversion kits are also sold for the mini mags to turn this single bulb into the multi bulb L.E.D. Cost……………$2.00
#2 Lighted magnifying glass. Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t have a bug for me to look at and identify and while most times I
recognize it from a mile away it pays to have a small magnifier. Tiny ants can sometimes only be identified by their nodes and that’s almost impossible to see with the naked eye. The more important use however really isn’t always for you. Showing your customer the insect through the glass and explaining about the bug always reinforces your service and gives credibility to your words. Lighted ones are best and fit in any service pouch. Cost………..$2.00
#3 Mini screwdriver. This is a must have for any good bug person because you can access behind wall switch plates or open panels on small appliances like a microwave. Being able to get into these areas goes along way to better control and helps you hide your baits or dusts. Cost………….$1.00
#4 Bendy straw. Using a bendable straw for your dusting can allow you to reach higher and angle around corners. Now I don’t use a straw every time I dust but it can come in handy. There are professional extenders but this article is ‘5 must haves for under $6.00’ but this might be one tool you want to look at. Straw cost…….. $0.02
#5 A small sticker with your company name, services you do and phone number. I put one of these on the cabinet door under the kitchen sink in every house I do. Sure they’re already my customer but I want to reinforce all my services in their minds so they don’t end up calling someone else to do that termite job. Also should they move my silent little salesman tells them who they can call each time they reach for a can of Raid. These small reminders can easily be made on your computer with any message you want and the stickers are quite cheap but still look good. Cost………….$0.05
So there you go, 5 great tools for under $6.00 and you even change to spare. I use these things almost everyday and while a sticker or a screwdriver won’t help you kill a roach directly, they do speak of your readiness and professionalism which could help you land another job which means you’ll have many more bugs to kill with your new customer.
