Professional Pest Control vs DIY

What store-bought products do

An over-the-counter spray kills the pests you can see. UC IPM says spraying ants indoors will not stop more of them coming in, because the colony is somewhere else.

UC IPM says total-release foggers often fail to reach the crevices where cockroaches hide. Sprays can scatter them into other parts of the building.

Ant baits work differently. UC IPM says they are slow on purpose, so the workers carry them back to the colony. It can take 5 to 10 days to see fewer ants.

What a visit adds

On a general pest control plan in Sacramento, every visit starts outside.

The technician walks the perimeter, checks the foundation line, the utility openings and the roofline, treats what needs treating and tells you what they found.

The plans run $39 a month quarterly, $49 bi-monthly or $79 monthly on a 12-month agreement, plus a $150 initial cost. They list German cockroaches, termites, roof rat infestations and major flea or bedbug infestations as exclusions.

Rodent exclusion is quoted separately after an inspection, from $500. The pricing page has the full terms. The numbers are broken down in our guide to pest control costs in Sacramento.

What you can do before anyone comes out

• Wipe the scent trail off the counter with soapy water on a sponge.
• Keep food in sealed containers and fix a dripping tap.
• Pull mulch, grass and plants back at least a foot from the foundation.
• Write down where and when you see the pest, and which product you used.

When to call

If the same pest returns a few weeks after a spray, the source has not been dealt with. A one-off spray removes the pests you can see. It does not reach the colony or the opening they came through.

UC IPM’s guide to hiring a pest control company puts the choice this way. If the problem needs repeated pesticide applications or complex procedures, consider whether you have the skills, equipment and time to follow through, and if not, hire a professional.

Its pesticide guide adds that licensed operators can use some products that are not sold online or in retail stores. Sources, checked 7 October 2026: UC IPM, Hiring a Pest Control Company and UC IPM, Understanding Pesticides.

Quotes are free. Contact us or call (916) 818-3863, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm.