Mice, ants, or wasps in an older house are a common reason a parent's phone call sounds worried. From far away it is hard to tell whether the problem is a seasonal nuisance or a sign that something is getting into the walls. When you hire a pest control company, the sales call is not where you learn the most. The inspection notes, the plan, and the contract tell you what you are buying.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Ask for an inspection before a treatment
A company that sprays after a short look at the kitchen has not shown you the problem. Ask whether the inspection covers the crawl space, the attic, the garage, and the spots where pipes and wires come into the house. Ask them to put what they found in writing, including where the entry points are. If they cannot tell you where the pests are getting in, the treatment is a guess.
Compare the treatment plan
Ask each company what they will do inside, what they will do outside, and what they expect you or your parent to do. Some plans rely on sealing gaps, moving stored items, or clearing food out of reach. If the plan asks your parent to climb, lift, or reach behind appliances, that is a task for the family to schedule, not a surprise on the day of the visit. Ask about pets and children in the house and how long they should stay out of treated rooms.
Read the follow-up and renewal terms
Many pest control agreements are recurring, with visits every few months. Find out how many follow-up visits are included, what they cost beyond that, and how to cancel. Ask whether a return visit between scheduled dates is free if the problem comes back.
Tonight
Look for droppings, nests, or chew marks, and take a photo of each one from a few feet away. Write down where you saw them and what time of day. Ask your parent whether they have seen them in the kitchen, under the sink, or in the bedroom.
What to leave with the company
Give the company the photos, the list of locations, and the rooms your parent uses most often. Ask for the inspection in writing, the treatment plan, the follow-up schedule, the cancellation terms, and the name of the technician who will come back. Keep those pages with the house papers so the next visit starts from the same notes.