FAQ

It's a lot to take in, but don't worry, we're here for you. These are some of the most common questions we hear from new customers.

Does Bigfoot offer guarantees?
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Absolutely! Our word is our bond, so when we say we'll get rid of your pest problems, we are dead serious about that. If you see bugs between quarterly treatments, don't hesitate to text, call, or email our office so we can get a technician out to you ASAP.

I'm seeing more pest activity since my first service. What gives?
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If you see increased activity after a treatment, that usually means the bugs are freaking out because they know the end is nigh. The products we use have been scientifically designed for the long game. They don't kill on contact, they kill by sticking to bugs and letting them do the dirty work for us. Pests carry the insecticide back to the nest and spread it to the others, effectively wiping out the community, instead of individual bugs.

How long should I wait before requesting a re-service?
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Our top-notch products usually take about two weeks to reach maximum effectiveness. If you have any concerns before or after that two week period, don't hesitate to text, call, or email our office so we can get a technician to your home to check on things.

Why do I need a professional pest control service?
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Hate to break it to you, but that little can of Raid isn't going to cut it. You might kill a wasp or spider here and there, but there's a much bigger picture that you can't understand if you're not trained in the ways of the pest. As a matter of fact, if you kill a few pests, the hive can begin to sense that they are under attack and actually go into baby-making overdrive to offset the onslaught. That's why the products we use take time to spread. By the time the pests notice something is wrong, it's too late. Pest control is based on years of science, testing, and experimentation with products and application methods 1000x more advanced than the can of bug spray you got at Home Depot.

If I enroll in Bigfoot's quarterly pest control program, does that mean I'll never see another bug on my property?
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Unfortunately, bugs have a few million extra years of evolutionary survival skills on us, which makes them tricky little... buggers. It's impossible to kill every last bug, or prevent a single one from coming back. That's why we offer our quarterly Level Five pest treatment: it's simply the best way to be bug-free in the long term. Bugs can still scurry, crawl, or fly into your home at any time, and that's why we offer free re-services between treatments. If the bugs come back, so do we.

Do you treat the inside of my home during each service visit?
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We'll play it by eye, but it's typically unnecessary. 99% of the battle against pests is fought and won outdoors. We hit them hard at the source (outside), then create and maintain a barrier around your home to keep these pesky suckers out of your humble abode. Most of the time, only one of four yearly services will require indoor treatment, but we will always treat indoors if you see pest activity, or if you just want some extra peace of mind. We're not afraid to go the extra mile –anytime, anywhere.

Are pesticides safe for my kids and pets?
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Of course! We get it, pesticides have a bad rap and sound kind scary. You're trying to protect your family, so it would really suck if our products were more dangerous than the pests we're obliterating with them. Have no fear, the pesticides we use are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved, meaning they've been through a ton of rigorous tests to ensure they are safe for humans and animals alike. But we don't stop there, all of our technicians are highly trained and certified when it comes to the products and methods of application.

Why do you only offer quarterly treatments?
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In our decades of experience, we've learned that one-time services end up being ineffective in the long run, and we don't want to mess with things that don't make your home a happier and safer place. Quarterly service allows us to maintain our Level Five barrier around your home, ensuring that these stupid bugs don't ever make it to the warmth and safety of the indoors of your home, while year-round coverage means that if they do make it inside, we'll be there to kick them out.

Why don't you service my home in the winter?
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Long story short, it's (usually) a waste of your money and our time. Bugs are always active, but considerably less active in the winter months, and almost totally inactive outdoors. Don't worry though, we won't leave you hanging. If you notice a pest problem crop up inside your house from December–February, we'll be back to lay the smack down before you can say, "Jiminy Christmas!"

Do I have to be home when you visit?
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No. Most people work during the day and find it difficult to arrange a time to be home when we are there. However, if you want to be there the first visit, we can arrange a time frame to meet you and your dog. Just let us know.

Does the size of my dog or yard affect the price?
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We typically charge the same for small or large dogs or yards; however, we reserve the option to add an upcharge for unique situations. Sometimes people think that since their small dogs produce small poop, our service should be less expensive; however, often small dog poop the size of a Tootsie Roll is hard to find, especially when in a gravel or grass yard. We will advise you on our first visit if we need to modify our pricing prior to starting any service for you.

What day and time can you visit my yard?
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Our service days are from dawn to dusk, Monday through Friday; however, our routes vary by geographic area. We will try to accomodate special scheduling requests, but that is not always possible. Call us and we can share what day or days of the week that we will be in your general area.Exact timing of our visits is not common, since each scooping visit is unpredictable. We don’t know what we will encounter each week. One week, all dog waste may be found in one small geographic area in the yard and the next week, it may be spread out across the entire yard. Some weeks the dog waste may be solid and dry, and other weeks your dogs may have had digestive issues causing loose stool, so cleaning and sanitizing may take much longer. We would ask that you be flexible and allow us to visit as time permits on your assigned day, and if you have need for more specific timing one week, just ask.One day prior to each visit we will send you an email and text reminder of your appointment, plus you will receive a text when our team is on their way, prior to arriving. (Text and data rates may apply to texts you receive.)

When you visit my yard, what exactly do you do?
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We scoop your dog’s poop weekly by using a grid-method of searching – north to south, then east to west, so we don’t miss any hidden piles. On the first visit, we normally collect the dog poop using our exclusive PooVac, so we can get even the smallest dusk fine particles of poop (watch video).After scooping, we bag up the dog waste, seal the bag airtight and deposit it into your trash can. If you requested our sanitizing and deodorizing service, we spray all areas where heavy dog waste and urination were found prior to leaving. If you have heavily soiled and stinky artificial turf, we can comb it clean of all dog waste and then Wysiwash it to dissolve, sanitize and disinfect any remaining odor causing poop residue including diarrhea and wet messy dog poop waste. We then exit and ensure that all gates have been closed to prevent a pet escape, and finally, we leave a “You’ve Been Scooped” slip and Scooby snacks at your front door step.

Do I have to sign any contracts?
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Nope. Those pesky contracts don't make anyone's life better, so we don't make you sign one. We like to keep it simple. By accepting and paying for our services, you are simply giving Bigfoot Home Services implied permission to visit your property to pick up your dog poop, clean your turf and perform our other services as outlined in our Policies and Procedures. There is no minimum service commitment, and you may cancel anytime with a 24 hour notice.  All of our Policies and Procedures can be found by clicking here.

Is dog poop dangerous?
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Dog waste that is left in your yard and on your artificial turf not only attracts flies that can carry dog waste residue and disease into your home, onto your food and elsewhere, but your dogs often step in their poop and track residue inside your home, where they then curl up on your couch, jump on your bed, put their paws on your table and countertops, and snuggle up to you and your kids in front of the TV.  Poop from cats in your yard also harbor many dangerous bacteria and diseases.Quick Health Facts:· The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency – EPA.gov) classified pet waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals.· Pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms, salmonella, and roundworm.· Roundworm eggs can remain active in the soil long after dog feces has weathered away.· Children are most at risk. Roundworm can cause conditions such as upset stomachs, sore throats, asthma, and blindness.· Dog feces are leading sources of E. Coli contamination of drinking water, lakes and ponds.· 1 gram of dog feces contains over 20 million E. Coli bacteria.· A compost heap will not become hot enough to kill the pathogens in dog feces.· Pathogens in dog feces can contaminate your vegetable garden.· The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov) confirms that pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and salmonella.· Studies done in recent years put dog waste 3rd or 4th on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters. (Microbiologist from University of South Florida) USAToday.com· Officials estimate 12,000 dogs leave more than 5,000 pounds of solid waste per day.

What happens if there's bad weather?
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In the event of the weather gods interfering with a scheduled scooping, you will receive a text, call, or email from our office notifying you that your service is being postponed. Bigfoot Pros usually get caught up on your service the same week. If we can't make it happen before your next service, your account will be credited for that service, and your regular services will resume as scheduled.

Does my dog need to be inside while we scoop?
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We love dogs! That's a huge part of why we do this. As long as your dogs are good with new people, then we have no problem if your dog(s) is in the yard while we scoop. However, we ask that you keep any aggressive dogs indoors while we work, for everyone's safety.

Is there any extra charge that might occur?
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There is an additional charge on the first visit, IF your yard has not been cleaned up in a while. If you happen to be the type that cleans your house before the cleaning lady arrives…STOP! Let us do the dirty work for a small fee, starting at just $15 extra.  We also charge our weekly service fee if we visit your yard and cannot gain access due to a locked gate, aggressive dog or other barrier to entry, and we charge a $2.00 per day late fee if a credit or debit card is declined and not corrected the same day as the charge.  If your dogs regularly have diarrhea or loose stool, we may charge a $3.00 loose stool/ diarrhea charge to cover the cost of added time to scrape/collect the waste, clean our tools and shoes, plus time to advise you of your dog’s condition and risk of dehydration, plus possible need to see a vet.  A $25 cancellation fee is charged for all new account visits which are cancelled without 24 hours of notice.

How can I leave you a key to get into my yard?
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For insurance compliance, we can’t accept keys for padlocks, gates or doors, and we never allow our staff to enter your yard through your home, garage or other personal space for liability reasons. However, we will happily provide a new combination padlock, so we can enter your yard through a side gate without worrying about losing keys, and we only share the combination with you and you can share it with your pool service, landscapers, etc.