Well, it’s over – or just about, anyway. It’s been a year of experimentation and learning for me, that’s for sure.
Tried hiring full time help. Might be different if they had their license & could work alone, but right now it feels as though I worked all year for free!! I don’t like that, so I have some significant work to do in that area. I mean, it’s great that my kids and other family members are making money from their participation in Cottage Country Pest Control – but I’m working seven days a week and am no further ahead than if I just teach my two days a week. That can not continue!
Tried paying for advertising. Some worked – the Midland Home Show definitely paid off, and we’ve been spreading pens and seeing results from those – and the car. And my bee boots! Lots of conversations about the bee boots, which is very cool. I like to be able to talk to people about the importance of not using companies that use Dragnet for mosquito management – even if they don’t opt to choose us for environmentally friendly mosquito management. Neighbours in the Heart of Tiny is a good investment, too, I think; several people have mentioned seeing us there.
On the other hand, YP google adwords at $500/month? NO THANK you. I can’t wait to be done with that contract.
Tried AI – that didn’t go as well as I hoped – especially for the amount of money it cost. Even though they use your – my – voice and info to train the AI, no one likes feeling fooled when they realize that it’s not actually a person they’re talking to. And honestly, for something with intelligence in the name, it’s still pretty dumb, if you ask me. It doesn’t learn anything – for example, once someone mentions island, that bit of info needs to be retained and all further questions need to reflect that (Islands take more time, so they cost more – but yes, we do service them). Maybe it was just the system they were using, but for the amount of money it cost, you’d think it could be programmed to happen. If, then, else ….. basic programming that even I managed to master – and teach.
As for pests, no spongy moths or anything fun like that. But the termites are on the move, and a whole lot of people are going to be in for a shock, I think. Including a fair number of brand new builds, which is distressing. And so unnecessary!! If you know there are termites in an area, spend $500 – that’s such a small amount in relation to the overall cost of building a house!! $500 to save yourself thousands over the life of the house. DUH!!
I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t!!
Even if you don’t believe in termites (again – DUH!) the same stuff that can protect you against termites also helps prevent carpenter ants, and those are ubiquitous now, throughout the entire area we service. All of Muskoka, Simcoe, Parry Sound – there are carpenter ants. And these days they don’t even wait for damp wood! We’re getting calls for them in brand new builds, even.
Huge luxury homes in the process of being built raining frass. So much pretty coloured frass! Because its not from wood any more. Mostly, these days, it’s that spray foam insulation that many insulation companies are recommending. Works great – to insulate – but also, the ants love it and love to excavate nice smooth nests to raise their babies.
I haven’t seen termites in it – yet. But I sure have battled with ants. And it is not fun! The foam is dense and our products don’t penetrate into it effectively. If and when I can pinpoint a nest, make a hole and spray directly into it, they just up and move to a new location. Presumably fumigation might work but that’s a whole new (& potentially expensive & way more dangerous) approach to pest control. I’ll do the license because I like to learn new things – but seriously don’t see it as a viable solution.
The IPM solution is prevention! We know all about how to prevent termites, carpenter ants, and wood destroying insects from destroying buildings! They figured it out in countries like the southern US and Australia and other places that have them. The products exist, the technologies exist – all we’re missing is the will to look at what is right under our noses and recognize that its an issue.
I get it – no one that owns a termite-infested house wants to advertise that fact. It’s not great for property values. Tiny Township quite likely would also rather keep their presence on the down-low. It’s not exactly a selling feature! For real estate folks, it adds complexities that they’d quite likely prefer to avoid if possible. Hell, even some of the other pest control companies in the area have been known to tell homeowners that they don’t have termites because we don’t have termites in Tiny.
Except we do! And in Tay also, I hear, although I haven’t seen those for myself yet.
It does stand to reason though. There are termites in Guelph. And in Toronto. And Newmarket, and Oshawa and …. well, you get the idea.
Do we think they’re all just going to stay there? That’s not how that works. Not only do they travel underground, build mud tunnels to wherever, and tag along when wood is moved – they send out winged swarmers, too. The reality is that they are not coming to cottage country. They are here.
And before long we’re going to start seeing the damage that is already occurring.
Anyway ….. didn’t mean to get so far off track – but seriously, if you’re getting new insulation, please, please, please consider having us in to inspect and protect the wood beneath it first!!
If you’re buying a home or cottage, maybe add an inspection re: wood destroying insects and/or other potential pest problems. They’re not required here – but you’re allowed to protect yourself even so!
And if you’re building or renovating anywhere in the area, protect your investment. A safe, simple Bora-Care treatment can go a very long way to ensuring that your home or cottage will be protected from wood destroying insects and fungi.
Seriously – prevention is the way to go! SO much cheaper – and it adds to your property value instead of subtracting from it.
Should be a no-brainer.
But then, lots of things should be.
Always so much more to learn!! I’m looking forward to seeing what I get to learn in 2025.
Happy New Year to you & yours.
