SHOULD I GET MULTIPLE QUOTES FOR WILDLIFE REMOVAL? WHAT TO COMPARE

Yes, You Should Get Multiple Quotes (But Not For the Reason You Think)

Getting multiple quotes isn't about finding the lowest price. It's about understanding what you're actually paying for.

Here's why shopping around is valuable:

1. You Learn What the Problem Actually Is

The first company might say, "You have squirrels. We'll seal the main entry point for $800."

The second company might say, "You have squirrels entering through 12 different entry points. We need to seal all of them for $2,500."

Which quote is accurate? The second one. But you wouldn't know that without comparing.

2. You See Who's Being Honest

Some companies lowball quotes to get in the door, then hit you with "unexpected" charges later.

Others give you the full scope upfront—even if it's more expensive.

Getting multiple quotes exposes who's being transparent and who's playing games.

3. You Understand Industry Standards

If three companies quote $2,000-2,800 and one company quotes $600, that tells you something.

Either:

• The cheap company is missing something (most likely), or
• The other companies are overcharging (unlikely if they're all within range)

Multiple quotes give you a baseline for what's reasonable.

What You Should Actually Compare (Hint: It's Not Just Price)

Here's where most homeowners go wrong. They get three quotes, see "$800, $2,500, $3,200," and pick the cheapest one.

Bad move.

Here's what you should actually be comparing:

1. Scope of Work

This is the #1 thing people miss.

Company A says:
"We'll seal the main entry point on your roof return for $800."

Company B says:
"We'll seal 14 entry points around your entire home for $2,500."

These are not the same job. If you only seal one entry point, animals will find the other 13 and get back in within days.

What to ask:

• "How many entry points did you find?"
• "Are you sealing ALL of them, or just the obvious ones?"
• "What happens if animals get back in through an entry point you missed?"

Red flag: Any company that says "we'll seal the main hole and see if that works." That's not a solution—that's a gamble.

2. Materials Used

Not all exclusion materials are equal.

Cheap companies use:

• Foam
• Caulk
• Chicken wire
• Wood

Why it's cheap: These materials cost pennies and take 5 minutes to install.

Why it fails: Animals chew through foam in days. Caulk cracks. Chicken wire bends. Wood rots.

Professional companies use:

• Steel mesh (1/4" or 1/2" galvanized steel)
• Aluminum flashing
• Sheet metal

Why it costs more: These materials are expensive and take time to install properly.

Why it works: Animals cannot chew through steel or aluminum. It lasts forever.

What to ask:

• "What materials are you using?"
• "Can animals chew through those materials?"
• "Do you paint the repairs to match my home?"

Red flag: Any company that says "we use foam" or won't specify materials.

3. Warranty

This is HUGE.

Cheap companies offer:

• No warranty, or
• 30-90 day warranty

What that means: If animals get back in after 91 days, you pay again.

Professional companies offer:

• 1-year minimum warranty
• Lifetime renewable warranties

What that means: If animals ever get back in through sealed areas, they fix it free.

What to ask:

• "What does your warranty cover?"
• "How long is it valid?"
• "Is it renewable?"
• "What's NOT covered?"

Red flag: Any company that doesn't offer at least a 1-year warranty on their work.

4. What's Included in the Quote

Some quotes include everything. Some don't.

Company A: $800

• Seals main entry point
• Does NOT include trapping
• Does NOT include cleanup
• Does NOT include insulation
• You pay extra for all of that later

Company B: $2,500

• Seals ALL entry points
• Includes trapping
• Includes attic sanitization
• Includes insulation removal (if needed)
• One price, all-inclusive

Which is actually cheaper? Company B.

What to ask:

• "Does this include trapping animals already inside?"
• "Does this include attic cleanup and sanitization?"
• "Does this include insulation removal/replacement if needed?"
• "Are there ANY additional costs I should expect?"

Red flag: Quotes that seem too good to be true usually don't include half the work.

5. Company Experience and Specialization

There's a big difference between:

• A pest control company that "also does wildlife"
• A wildlife exclusion specialist

Pest control companies:

• Focus on insects (spraying, baiting)
• Wildlife is a side service
• May not have specialized training or materials

Wildlife specialists:

• ONLY do wildlife exclusion
• Trained specifically in structural sealing
• Have years of experience with every animal type

What to ask:

• "How long have you been doing wildlife exclusion?"
• "Is this your primary service or a side offering?"
• "How many wildlife jobs do you do per year?"

Red flag: Any company that says "we mostly do pest control but we can handle wildlife too."

6. Reviews and Reputation

Don't just look at the star rating. Read the actual reviews.

Look for:

• Reviews mentioning permanent results (no callbacks)
• Reviews mentioning warranty honored
• Reviews mentioning professionalism and communication

Red flags in reviews:

• "Animals came back and they wanted to charge me again"
• "They only sealed one hole and left"
• "They didn't return my calls after payment"

What to check:

• Google reviews (can't be faked easily)
• BBB rating
• Nextdoor recommendations

Skip: Yelp (too easy to manipulate), Facebook (can delete negative reviews)

Why the Cheapest Quote Almost Always Costs More

Let's walk through a real scenario:

Scenario: Homeowner Gets Three Quotes

Quote 1: $800 (pest control company)

• Seals main roof return with foam
• No warranty
• No trapping included

Quote 2: $2,500 (wildlife specialist)

• Seals all 14 entry points with steel mesh
• Includes trapping
• Lifetime warranty

Quote 3: $3,200 (national chain)

• Seals all entry points
• Includes cleanup
• 1-year warranty

Homeowner Chooses Quote 1 ($800)

Week 1: Company seals main entry point with foam. Looks good.

Week 3: Squirrels chew through foam and get back in.

Homeowner calls company back.

Company: "We only sealed the one hole. You have other entry points. That'll be another $800."

Week 6: Homeowner pays another $800. Still hearing scratching.

Week 8: Homeowner gives up and calls Company 2 (the $2,500 quote).

Company 2: "The other company only sealed 2 of your 14 entry points. We need to redo everything and seal the rest. That'll be $2,800 now because there's additional damage."

Total Cost:

• First company: $800
• Second payment to first company: $800
• Final payment to Company 2: $2,800
• Total: $4,400

If they'd just hired Company 2 from the start: $2,500.

Trying to save $1,700 cost them an extra $1,900.

Questions to Ask Every Company Before You Decide

Here's your cheat sheet. Ask every company these questions and compare answers:

1. "How many entry points did you find, and are you sealing ALL of them?"
2. "What materials are you using, and can animals chew through them?"
3. "Does your quote include trapping animals already inside?"
4. "Does your quote include attic sanitization and insulation work if needed?"
5. "What does your warranty cover, and how long is it valid?"
6. "If animals get back in, what happens? Do I pay again?"
7. "How long have you specialized in wildlife exclusion?"
8. "Can you provide references from recent jobs?"

Red Flags That Should Disqualify a Company Immediately

Run—don't walk—if you hear any of these:

❌ "We'll seal the main hole and see if that works."
Translation: We're guessing and you'll pay twice.

❌ "We use foam because it's fast and effective."
Translation: We're lazy and our work will fail in weeks.

❌ "No warranty, but we'll come back if you have problems."
Translation: You'll pay again.

❌ "We mostly do pest control, but we can handle this."
Translation: We don't specialize and we're winging it.

❌ "The price is $800 but we need to come back to finish."
Translation: Bait-and-switch pricing.

How to Choose the Right Company

After getting 2-3 quotes, here's how to decide:

Don't choose based on price alone.

Choose based on:

• Scope of work (are they sealing everything?)
• Materials (steel/aluminum vs. foam?)
• Warranty (lifetime vs. 30 days?)
• Experience (wildlife specialists vs. pest control?)
• Reviews (do people say it worked permanently?)

The "sweet spot" quote:

Not the cheapest. Not the most expensive. Somewhere in the middle with:

• All entry points sealed
• Professional materials
• Lifetime warranty
• Excellent reviews

What Homeland Wildlife Quotes Include (Always)

When we give you a quote, here's what's included—no surprises, no add-ons:

✅ Complete inspection (attic, roof, exterior)
✅ Sealing ALL entry points (not just the obvious ones)
✅ Steel mesh and aluminum materials (never foam)
✅ Trapping (for animals already inside)
✅ One-way doors (for humane exclusion)
✅ Attic sanitization (if needed)
✅ Insulation removal/replacement (if needed)
✅ Lifetime warranty (renewable annually)
✅ Paint matching (repairs blend with your home)

One price. Everything included. Done right the first time.

The Bottom Line

Should you get multiple quotes? Yes.

Should you pick the cheapest one? Almost never.

Wildlife removal isn't about finding a deal. It's about solving the problem permanently so you don't pay twice.

Get 2-3 quotes. Compare scope, materials, warranty, and experience—not just price.

The company that seems expensive upfront is usually the one that saves you money in the long run.

Ready for an honest, transparent quote? Call Homeland Wildlife & Pest Control at 210-776-6100. We'll inspect your home, show you every entry point, and give you one all-inclusive price to fix it for life.

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