Do You Have Bugs Or Rodents In Your Home?

(WUSA) -- If you have bugs or rodents in your home, it may be time to start a relationship with an exterminator. But be sure to do your homework so that relationship doesn't become unnecessarily long or expensive.

Robert Krughoff, President of Washington Consumers' Checkbook, puts it this way, "if you have pests in your house, whether it's mice, or cockroaches or whatever, you want them out and you want them out fast. "

The first step is to try to eliminate the creepy-crawlies yourself. If that doesn't work it's time to bring in the professionals. It's important to know there can be big differences in quality and price of local pest control companies.

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Washington Consumers' Checkbook highlights the difference between a superior and inferior company.

Krughoff says, "We found firms that will guarantee they will solve the problem and come back again and again if necessary if the problem is not solved, and for half the price of some of the other firms who wouldn't give you any guarantee at all."

And if it's a major problem? Kurghoff advises, "you'll want several firms to come to your home, and tell you how they would solve the problem."

Here are some top picks from Consumers' Checkbook for local pest control companies:

• Able Termite and Pest Control, in Frederick, Maryland
• Benware Termite Control, in Olney, Maryland
• Adcock's Trapping Service, in College Park, Maryland
• Bug Busters, in Herndon, Virginia
• Contractors Termite and Pest Control, in Alexandria, VA

Finally, some food for thought about termites. Be very careful about your treatment options. Checkbook found some firms recommended treatment whether you had termites or not. So again, be sure to get several companies to come out.