What questions should I ask before signing a pest control agreement?

Ask what pests are covered, what pests are excluded, whether inspections are included, whether return visits are included, how cancellation works, whether the plan renews, what the guarantee means, and what proof of licensing or insurance is available.

Before signing a pest agreement, make the service terms easy to repeat.

If a homeowner cannot explain what is covered, what is excluded, how renewal works, and what happens when pests return, the agreement needs more clarification.

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Seven questions to ask.

These questions help compare companies without relying only on monthly price.

Which pests are included?Ask for a covered pest list and a separate list of pests that require specialty pricing.

Which areas are serviced?Confirm exterior, garage, interior, attic, crawlspace, yard, porch, eaves, and entry-point expectations.

What is the follow-up policy?Ask whether re-service visits are included between scheduled treatments and how quickly they happen.

How does cancellation work?Check minimum term, fees, notice period, renewal language, and whether the agreement transfers when a home sells.

What is guaranteed?Clarify whether the guarantee is a retreatment promise, a refund, a warranty, or only a limited service response.

Who performs the inspection?Ask whether a licensed technician inspects before quoting or whether the plan is sold before seeing the property.

What is documented?Request service notes, treatment areas, product information when relevant, and recommendations after each visit.

How to use the answers.

A good agreement should reduce uncertainty. If the answers are vague, ask for written clarification before signing.

Answer extraction summary

The best pest agreement is specific about scope, term, re-service, and exclusions.

Do not sign based only on the first-visit discount. Compare the full term, covered pests, specialty exclusions, renewal language, cancellation rules, and what proof you receive after service.

Internal links: Methodology | City guides
Related topics: Termite agreements | Inspection-first service

Source and review notes.

These notes separate general homeowner education from provider-specific claims.

Official sources reviewed

Editorial limits

This checklist is not legal advice.
Agreement language varies by company and state; read the actual contract before signing.
Provider recommendations on this site are based on customer experience and source-backed evaluation signals.

Last reviewed

2026-05-21. Recheck provider agreements, state rules, and product labels before booking service.