What Goes Into the Cost of Rat Control in Louisville

Everyone wants a number on the phone. We don't give one, because we don't do the work and we don't set prices. The company that comes out will quote you after they've seen the place, and two houses on the same street can get very different quotes. Here's what usually drives the price, so you know what you're looking at.

The parts of a rat job

Most quotes are built from some mix of these pieces. Some companies bundle them, some price them separately.

• The inspection, inside and out
• Trapping, with a set number of follow-up visits
• Outdoor bait or trap stations, if the plan uses them
• Sealing and rat proofing, priced by how much there is to close
• Cleanup of droppings, nests and insulation
• Dead animal removal and odor treatment
• A follow-up or monitoring plan after the job

What makes it cost more

Size and age of the house, mostly. A big Victorian with a stone foundation and a carriage house in Old Louisville has far more to inspect and seal than a brick ranch in Okolona. How long the rats have been there matters too, since a long-running problem means more cleanup and more holes. Hard access adds time: a tight crawl space, an attic with only a closet scuttle hole, or a basement full of stored stuff.

Commercial work is usually priced as a recurring plan, based on the building size, the type of business and how often they come. See commercial rat control.

Questions to ask before you agree

Ask what exactly is included, and how many visits. Ask what happens if rats are still around after the last visit. Ask whether sealing is part of the price or separate, and what materials they'll use. Ask for photos or a list of what they sealed. Ask what their guarantee or warranty says, if they offer one. That comes from them, not from us.

And check the free help first. Louisville Metro may bait rats at single-family homes through Metro 311. Our Metro 311 guide explains it.

See also: Rat Control, Rat Proofing and Exclusion, Commercial Rat Control