Time is Money: To Mix, or Not to Mix?

Now here’s a tip that might sound strange: Do not be 100 percent prepared.

When I was a Boy Scout, the motto “Be Prepared” was reinforced regularly. It’s a great concept, but isn’t always appropriate when it comes to pest management. Let me explain:

We always want to be prepared to handle anything we find at a client’s home or business. And, yes, we should always have the tools and materials on our truck to handle clients’ issues. But I’m referring to overpreparing — arriving at the service location already locked and loaded.

For example, a service technician arrives at an account with a compressed air sprayer filled with his pesticide of choice, ready to treat. How does he know he’s loaded up what’s actually needed?

When I ask that question in training, I inevitably hear, “Well, he talked to the client beforehand and he knows what the issue is.”

Really? Think about how many times clients tell you one thing on the phone, only for you to find something different when you arrive at the home or business.

You might think having your pesticide mixed and ready will save time, and in many cases it might. But it also might cost you time and money if you have to discard the product after seeing the situation and realizing you’ll need something different.

The best way to save time and money is to always inspect first, determine what and how much is needed and mix only what you need.

You can reach Frank Meek, international technical and training director for Orkin, at fmeek@rollins.com.