Pest control questions, answered

It depends on the pest and the house. National cost guides put a one-time general visit at $50 to $500, with a national average of $171 (This Old House, 2026). Those are published figures, not quotes. The company that inspects your home gives you its own price before any treatment.

For pests that keep coming back from outside, like ants and roaches, a plan can make sense in a climate this warm and wet. For one wasp nest or a single mouse, a one-time visit is enough. Ask what each visit includes and how you cancel before you sign.

Warmth and water. Memphis International Airport averages 56 inches of rain a year and about 92 nights a year that stay at 70°F or warmer (NOAA, 1996 to 2025). It averages only 6 nights a year at 20°F or colder, so winter does little to knock insects back.

Yes. Subterranean termites live in soil and reach houses through pencil-wide mud tubes on foundations and piers, and winged swarmers or shed wings on windowsills are a telltale sign (University of Kentucky Entomology). Memphis gets about 56 inches of rain a year, which keeps the soil by a foundation damp. Ask for an inspection if you see tubes or wings.

Lenders often ask for one. In Tennessee the report is called a Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Report, and the Department of Agriculture says it must be warranted for ninety (90) days for the accuracy of what it reports.

Brown recluse spiders are native to the south central United States, which includes west Tennessee. They hide in dark, undisturbed places like closets and garages. Bites are rare, but an infestation should be taken seriously (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Tennessee requires a pest control charter for each office, and the Department of Agriculture keeps a public charter search. The charter number must be visible on the company vehicle, and you can ask to see the technician's certification card.

Ask the company which products they plan to use and how long kids and pets should stay off treated areas. You have the right to ask for the product label and safety data sheet, per the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

An independent pest control company with a Tennessee charter that serves your ZIP code. Memphis Pest Desk is a referral service: we pass your request along so you don't have to call around.

Under the FTC cooling-off rule, most sales of $25 or more made at your home can be canceled within three business days. The seller has to give you a cancellation form.