When you are considering whether to hire a pest control expert to get rid of mice or do it yourself, many folks ask the question: Just how much does a mouse exterminator cost? The answer? A very broad estimation is about $100-$300.
This cost may start lower – such as $90 for the initial inspection and treatment. Or the company may quote you $200-$300 for a several month contract.
If you sign up for a contract, the exterminator will come back as often as needed to make sure the mice are gone for good and your home is secured against future invasions. Like anything else, the final cost will vary depending on a number of factors that are covered in this article.
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5 Factors that Determine the Cost of a Mouse Exterminator
1. The Size Of Your Home.
The size of your home plays an important factor in the cost of the exterminator service. The biggest expense will be labor – the number of hours the exterminator needs to spend in your home.
The first step an exterminator will take is to do a thorough inspection. Common areas inspected include:
- Inside every room in the house.
- Under counters and in closets
- Inside kitchen cabinets and other storage areas
- Attics and Garages
- Perimeter walk around the house
- Internal & External ductwork
- Doors
- Outdoor Air conditioning & Heating Units
- Window Wells
The bigger your house is and the more nooks and crannies the exterminator needs to check will increase the cost. The inspection will take much longer for larger homes.
Considerations for apartments
Apartments. There are pros and cons to dealing with a mouse infestation in an apartment. On the plus side, if you are a renter, it is very likely that your landlord will cover the expense. You won’t have to do the hiring either. You may just need to be home when the mouse exterminator arrives and walk him through the problem areas, so the only real cost to you is your time.
If you are a landlord, it becomes much more difficult. You have less control over how your tenants keep their apartments. It only takes one bad or messy tenant to leave food out or garbage around the building to attract mice. And if the apartments are connected, the mice will travel from one apartment to another.
Even if you seal off all the entryways in all apartments, you still have common areas to consider. Tenants may leave doors propped open allowing the mice to scurry right in. Laundry facilities are often unattended at night when the mice like to roam and hunt. Snack machines, common kitchens, and utility rooms are all known nesting places for mice.
2. Amount Of Preventative Work Required
The next biggest cost is the time it will take to seal all the entry points the mice were using to enter your home. This cost will also vary depending on the amount of repair that is required and the cost of materials.
You can save money here by doing some of the work yourself. Some of the simpler repairs such as using steel wool and silicone gel to seal openings under the sink or in cabinets. You can purchase a DIY kit like the one to the right from Xcluder.
Talk to the pest control company and ask if they can provide advice for doing the repair work yourself. If you ask in advance, they may provide you a list of materials required & a basic set of instructions on what work needs to be performed to seal all the entry points.
3. The Cost Of Repairs
The type of mouse or other rodents invading your home and the amount of damage they have done. This cost will be to make repairs to your home. Rats are much more destructive than mice; they will chew right through drywall or siding to get access to your home.
If the mice have been living in your house for a long time, they may have done more damage and left a bigger mess. The time it takes to clean up the mouse droppings, urine trails and nests. You may even need to hire a cleaning company to deal with the mess.
4. How Many Mice You Have In Your Home.
The exterminator will estimate the number of mice so he can set out enough traps. Different companies will use different types of materials. Some companies use bait stations.
Small bait stations cost about $5-10 each, with larger stations costing $10-$15. Other extermination companies prefer snap traps to kill the mice. Snap traps cost between $2 -$4 each. Electric traps can cost between $20-50 each.
The cost of the mouse traps will be in direct correlation to the severity of your mouse infestation. While the pest control companies will get better prices since they can buy in bulk, the more mouse traps required to get rid of mice in your house will obviously increase the price of your extermination bill.
5. How Many Follow-up Visits Are Required?
Almost all companies will recommend a number of follow-up visits. You will discuss the options with your mouse control expert. Typically they will have weekly, monthly or quarterly options. Your specific pest control company should provide you an estimate for each option.
The follow-up service will typically include the following items:
- Re-inspection of your home. If mice are still getting inside, the exterminator will find and seal any new entry points. This won’t take as long as the first time, but the time still adds up.
- Removal of any dead mice or other rodents
- Reset traps or bait stations
How to Estimate the Cost & Value of a Mouse Exterminator
These costs will vary a great deal between companies. Based on the size of your house, the number of repairs, service trips, and cleanup efforts, etc.
The best way to get an estimate on the cost of a mouse exterminator or pest removal company is to request quotes from 3 or more companies. Make sure you get very specific details in exactly what the price covers, so you can make an accurate comparison. A $200 price tag that covers 6 months may actually provide more value than a $50 single service visit.
Here are some points of comparison.
- Is there a contract? How many months of service are included?
- Does the exterminator carry basic repair material with them? Will the price cover basic repairs such as filling holes with caulk?
- Is the service guaranteed?
- Will they give you a written report of the high traffic areas, points of entry & recommendations? This is very important & all good companies should provide you with some type of written report that you can refer to with any questions.
See our article on How to hire a mouse exterminator for more information on the interview process.
Additional Considerations when Evaluating the Cost of a Mouse Exterminator:
1. Ask if they are licensed. All good pest control companies will require their mouse exterminators to be licensed. Licensing requires specialized training and fees.
2. The lowest cost service is not always the best one. Make sure to ask each company you speak to the same questions and compare their answers. The type of services offered can vary greatly depending on the type of company you call.
3. Check online reviews and reputation. Do your research ahead of time and make sure to hire a quality pest control professional. Look for customer reviews if you are searching online or request references if they do not have an online presence. Check their better business bureau listing and see if they have been any complaints filed against the company. Do a basic Google search and see if the companies have won any awards or are featured in magazines.
All of these things will help you to find a good quality mouse exterminator for the money.
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