13 cockroach control pro tips

No matter which cockroach species you’re dealing with — American (Periplaneta americana), German (Blattella germanica), Oriental (Blatta orientalis), smoky brown (P. fuliginosa), or something else entirely — cockroaches are a resilient pest. Successful pest management professionals (PMPs) rely on control strategies that include service protocols; customer cooperation; multiple management solutions; and training for technicians, customer service representatives, and salespeople.

Here are 13 cockroach control tips from fellow PMPs to help put you on the path to success:

Don’t walk into a new account like you’ve seen this problem before, because every one of these situations always brings a new challenge. I learned about never taking the same approach in the early 1980s. Many of our techniques were like a writing blueprint, which worked very well. Until it didn’t. It took two or three callbacks for me to realize that cockroaches can’t read blueprints.
— Wilson Wong, Owner, Wilson’s Pest Solutions, Cooper City, Fla.

Inspect properly and treat accordingly. Do not treat based on a client’s recommendations; we are the experts. Charge appropriately for your expertise and the use of high-quality products.
— Camille Landry, Owner, Full Scope Pest Control, Houston, Texas

Coach the staff. The maintenance teams that work in the facility every day will do more to eliminate cockroaches than any pest control company. Cockroach management fails when there isn’t effective communication and collaboration between the staff and pest control company.
— Matt Walker, President, Pure Pest, St. Louis, Mo.

Do not rush the service. Proper inspection is important for finding all harborage areas. Do not forget to communicate to the customer the expectations of the treatment.
— Tim Rudisill, Director of Services, A1 Termite and Pest Control, Lenoir, N.C.

Offer good training on your protocols with both sales and service. Deploy multiple control methods and don’t rely on one method. Educate the client, and don’t require or rely on massive amounts of preparation for tenants — as more than likely, it won’t happen.
— Stan Dawkins Jr., ACE, Director of Operations, The Killers Pest Control, Salem, Ore.

Correctly identify the cockroach species. Don’t take the customer’s word on where they think they know the cockroaches are. Technicians need to thoroughly inspect all areas where they believe the cockroaches are. Don’t forget your flashlight!
— Michael Walker, President, Barron Pest Control, Mastic, N.Y.

PMPs should ask the right questions. Inquire what the client does for a living, what their typical day looks like. These details are key to helping eliminate an infestation.
— Jacob Morehouse, Director, Pest Prevention, Honor Services, Melbourne, Fla.

Don’t forget to inspect drop ceilings in facilities. Don’t be afraid to get dirty.
— Doug Foster, President, Burt’s Termite & Pest Control, Columbus, Ind.

Don’t cut service times short. Don’t neglect technician training.
— George Wynne, Quality Assurance Manager, ABC Home and Commercial Services, Austin, Texas

Use glue boards and monitors to help pinpoint areas of infestation. Don’t forget to educate the customer so they don’t interfere with your treatments. For example, baits take time to work, so the customer needs to exercise patience and not apply their over-the-counter aerosol.
— Natasha Wright, BCE, Technical Director, Braman Termite & Pest Elimination, Agawam, Mass.

Talk to customers about sanitation. Don’t rush your inspection; think food, water and harborage.
— Bill Cowley, Co-owner, Cowleys Pest Services, Farmingdale, N.J.

Make sure the initial inspection is performed correctly. Give yourself enough time and price it properly.
Make sure your team is trained properly on how to find cockroaches in commercial and multi-family settings. They don’t just live in kitchens.
— Adam Carace, CEO, Pest-End, Plaistow, N.H.

Know the latest research and cockroach control techniques. Position yourself as the expert in your market.
— Lisa Botts, Owner, Peacock Pest Prevention, Tomball, Texas