Hey everyone!
When rats invaded my Florida attic, I learned pest control pricing is a minefield. Here’s my 6-month financial hemorrhage:
- DIY Traps: $500 (electronic traps, peppermint oil, steel wool → failed)
- Exterminator Quotes: 1,200–3,500 (for 2,000 sq.ft. home)
- Home Repairs: $4k for chewed wiring, HVAC ducts, and insulation
- Medical Bills: $300 for tetanus shots after handling contaminated traps
The worst? My insurance denied coverage because rats are “preventable.” Share your cost horror stories and survival hacks!
Florida rats = premium pricing! Basic exclusion: 1.50–3.50/sq.ft. Full removal + cleanup: 4k–8k. Always demand EPA-compliant warranties, scams abound!
Built a Wi-Fi trap network for 600. Caught 22 rats in 2 weeks! But Subscription Analytics Cost 30/month. Cheaper than pros but time-consuming. @FrugalDad Try it!
Most policies exclude rodents. Exception: Farmers Insurance covers rat damage IF you prove annual pest inspections. Saved a client $14k for chewed Tesla wires!
Thermal imaging inspection: 300. Found 18 Entrypoints. Sealed Withcoppermesh + GorillaSealant: 200. 1 year rat-free. DIY savings: 90%. Tools paid off!
HOA ignored rat-infested common areas. Spent 5k onlawyer stoforce 20k cleanup. Now HOA fees doubled. Win or loss? Still debating.
Humane live traps cost 50each.Relocationgas:200/month. Hired falconry service ($500/day) to scare survivors. Eco-friendly = 5x pricier but guilt-free.
Your Wi-Fi traps miss nursing mothers in walls. They’ll repopulate fast! Pros use infrared cameras ($1.5k) to find nests. DIY fails cost more long-term.
Falcons? My motion-activated disco lights (30)scaredratsintoneighbors’yards.Now They’resuingmefor 10k. Cheapest option ≠ smartest!
HOAs often underinsured. Demand rodent clauses in bylaws. Won a $75k settlement for a condo group using CDC infestation codes. Legal > extermination costs!