10 Phrases That You'll Never Hear a Pest Professional Say

When you do our job -- and you do it well -- you find yourself saying a lot of the same things over and over again: “You’re welcome,” comes out a lot, as does, “Glad we could help.” But there are a few phrases you’ll never hear come out of a true pest control professional’s mouth... Or, if you do, that’s your clue that you’re not dealing with a real pro.

As a matter of fact, we can think of at least ten things you’ll never hear a real pest control professional say. Here’s what they are, what they mean and what you might actually hear us say instead.

“We don’t do that.” When a service professional says they don’t “do” something, what they’re really saying is that the customer’s needs aren’t important enough to bother going outside of their normal routine in order to assist them. A real pro understands that every customer’s needs may vary; so they are willing to not only respond to these requests, but proactively search for ways to assist them. If a client’s request exceeds our expertise, we respond with, “Let me help you find someone who can do that.”

“Let’s save it for next time.” That’s usually code for “I’m in a hurry,” and we never want customers to feel rushed. If a client has additional requests that we aren’t equipped to handle in the moment, we’ll figure out what they need and set another appointment immediately. “We’ll take care of that as soon as possible.”

“I’m a one-man band.” At JP Pest Services, we’re not just a band, we’re a full orchestra. Our team approach gets the job done as quickly, efficiently and -- most importantly -- as thoroughly as possible. “Let me ask for some help,” is more in tune with our philosophy.

“We’re too busy to help with that.” At JP Pest Services, we have great respect for those who have entrusted us to allow us into their homes, so they are of upmost priority. In the event where workload is higher than our schedules can reasonably allow, the next step isn’t to skimp on time limits with our current customers: it’s turning away new business. Continuously giving the best service to our current client base by making sure that our service professionals are never stretched for time is far more important to us than making a few extra bucks by giving mediocre service. Our team deserves that, and our customers do too.

“I’m too tired.” We provide our people with the tools they need to build a solid work/life balance, including company vehicles for all field positions, health insurance, paid time off and more. We take care of our employees so they can take care of our customers. “Let me see what I can do,” sounds much better, don’t you agree?

“This is the way it’s always been done.” We are never so arrogant to think that our service methods are so advanced that there isn’t room for further improvement. Every day there is new information, new products and new techniques that can help us do an even better job. The phrase “Is there a better way?” is always in the back of any pro’s mind.

“I’ll try.” Saying you’ll “try” means admitting defeat before you’ve even begun. For this one, we refer you to that font of wisdom known as Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” And when in doubt, a real pro is never above asking for backup when it’s needed to get the job done right.

“That’s not my job.” No matter what our individual roles are at JP Pest Services, all of our job descriptions can be summed up in three words: “Serve the customer.” If a client’s needs fall outside of any of our individual skillsets, our job is to connect the customer with someone who can help.

“It’s not my fault.” The problem with the blame game is that the finger always ends up pointing somewhere. Instead of looking backwards to see who may have dropped the ball, a real pro spends his attention finding a solution. “Let’s see what we can do to fix this,” reflects this forward-thinking approach.

“I don’t have time.” Although we certainly do have busy periods and we can’t always get to new requests immediately, saying you don’t have time ends the conversation right then and there. “Let’s see when we can take care of that for you,” is what true pest control professionals say when other obligations get in the way of responding right away. 

Playwright Tom Stoppard once said, “Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” Sometimes all it takes to transform your perspective from a negative to a positive outlook is to shift the words you use around a little.

If you’ve banned these phrases from your vocabulary, we’re looking for more people like you to join the JP Pest Services family. We’re currently hiring all over New England, and would love to have the honor of working with other “can-do”-minded individuals.

Ready to join the A-Team? Check out the open positions in your area.