Pest Control Blog
Practical tips, local pest guides, and expert advice to help Hampton Roads homeowners keep pests, termites, and moisture out for good.
Showing 25–30 of 288 articles
Pest Control Prices Near Me: How to Get a Real Number for Your Hampton Roads Home
Every "pest control near me" search returns companies promising a free quote and no numbers. Our cost estimator asks four or five questions and shows the published price for the work your house actually needs — plus why that work differs between Ocean View, Great Bridge and Harbour View.
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Rats in Rosemont Attics: Why This Part of Virginia Beach Keeps Getting Them
Our own footage of multiple live rats in a Rosemont attic, plus what the neighborhoods off Rosemont Road — Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza, The Lakes, Bow Creek — give a rat to work with: canal-drained low ground, mid-century rooflines, and a canopy that has grown into the gutters.
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Why Are There So Many Black Widow Spiders in Chesapeake?
Chesapeake has more black widow habitat than anywhere else in Hampton Roads: big lots, detached sheds, block foundations, woodpiles and swamp-edge treelines. Where widows actually build, how to tell one from a harmless look-alike, and what to do about the corner they keep coming back to.
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What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
An adult bed bug is an apple-seed-sized, flat, reddish-brown oval — but nymphs, eggs, shed skins and fecal spotting are what most people actually find first. A plain identification guide, plus the look-alikes that get mistaken for bed bugs in Hampton Roads homes.
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Can I Switch My Pest Control Service to Universal?
Yes — usually one phone call and one visit. What to check on your current agreement, why a termite bond is the one thing that does not transfer, what the first switch-over visit covers, and what quarterly service costs when you move.
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How Much Does Pest Control Cost in Norfolk in 2026? Prices for Owners, Landlords & Renters
Norfolk's pest bill, itemized: quarterly plans at $38 per month, bed bug work $175–$325 per room, rodent exclusion $99–$1,495 — and who pays for what in a city where half the households rent and the groundwater sits a shovel-blade down.
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How We Compare to Other Pest Control Companies
Not every pest control company in Hampton Roads offers the same thing. Here is a straight comparison of what you get with Universal Pest Control and what is common elsewhere in the industry.
| What to compare | Universal Pest Control | Most pest control companies |
|---|---|---|
| UniGuard ProgramExclusive | Universal Pest ControlUniGuard Program combines termite protection and full pest control in one membership for one low monthly payment — from $63/month, with the termite warranty and quarterly pest service included together. | Most pest control companiesTermite protection and pest control are usually sold as two separate agreements, with two renewals and two bills to keep track of. |
| SmartPay financingExclusive | Universal Pest Control$0-down payment options on termite treatments, baiting systems, and repairs, so the work can start before payday. Simple, predictable monthly payments. | Most pest control companiesFinancing, where it is offered, is commonly arranged separately through a third-party lender. |
| Pest Guard Attic Insulation™Exclusive | Universal Pest ControlHampton Roads' only licensed Pest Guard Insulation™ installer, through our sister company Universal Insulation Doctor — insulation manufactured with an EPA-registered pest preventative, so the replacement itself resists the insects that ruined the original. | Most pest control companiesAttic insulation is typically referred out, and standard fiberglass has no pest deterrent built into the material. |
| Total Home Health Network | Universal Pest ControlPest and termite control, attic insulation, and duct cleaning coordinated under one roof through the Universal family of companies — one point of contact for the whole job, done in the right order. | Most pest control companiesPest control only. Insulation and duct work are usually booked with separate vendors on separate timelines. |
| A+ BBB rating | Universal Pest ControlBBB accredited since 2007 with an A+ rating, earned through consistent, honest work in the same community. | Most pest control companiesAccreditation and ratings vary by company — worth checking before you book anyone. |
| 26+ years in business | Universal Pest ControlProtecting Hampton Roads homes since 2000 — more than 26 years in the same market, with over 100,000+ homes serviced. | Most pest control companiesTenure in the area varies widely; newer branches and recently opened franchises are common. |
| Family owned & operated | Universal Pest ControlOwned and run by a family that has lived in Hampton Roads their whole lives. The people who answer the phone and the crews at your door are your neighbors. | Most pest control companiesOwnership varies — many local branches are franchises of national brands, with crews dispatched from outside the area. |
| Guarantees in writing | Universal Pest ControlPest-Free Guarantee and Termite-Free Guarantee: if pests come back between scheduled visits, so do we, at no extra charge. Free inspections, plus same-day and next-day service. | Most pest control companiesRetreatment terms, callback windows, and what counts as covered differ from contract to contract. |
The highlighted Universal Pest & Termite column reflects services we provide directly or through the Universal family of companies. The “Most pest control companies” column describes common industry practice in general terms and is not a statement about any particular company — some companies may offer services that are similar, so ask any provider exactly what their plan, warranty, and quote include before you sign. Financing on approved credit.