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Reed McClure is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. He covers home services industries, including pest control, roofing, HVAC and lawn care. Reed has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and lives in Savannah, Georgia, with his wife and dog. Outside of writing, Reed enjoys going to the beach, watching his favorite sports teams, playing tennis and exploring new restaurants in Savannah.
Twenty-one percent of the 1,000 respondents in our February 2024 survey of homeowners listed price as the primary factor they considered when choosing a pest control company.
With affordable monthly rates, attractive new-customer discounts and friendly customer service, Hawx Pest Control is a great choice if you’re a price-conscious homeowner.
We conducted in-depth research into the company and spoke with Hawx team members to determine that Hawx is one of the top pest control companies.
Hawx scored 3.2 out of 5 stars in our review standards. When we spoke to the Hawx team, its high level of customer service and low pricing compared to competitors stood out to us. We like that technicians provide complimentary reservicing at any time, so you can rest easy knowing that your home will always be pest-free.
However, Hawx missed the mark in terms of its certifications and number of locations across the country.
We were very pleased by our interaction with the two Hawx team members we spoke to while doing our secret shopping. Not only were they both friendly and knowledgeable, but the technician offered us a generous “valued customer discount” if we signed up for a one-year pest control plan.
The one-year pest control plan comes with unlimited reservice visits, meaning a technician will come out at any point during the year to treat your home. So, if you spot an ant colony in your yard, the Hawx technician will perform the necessary treatments to prevent a full-blown infestation.
During our phone call, we also learned that all of Hawx’s pest treatments are safe for pets and children.
While researching online, we discovered that Hawx lacks certifications from the National Pest Management Association and the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program.
While these certifications aren’t necessary to become a pest control technician, they serve as trust signals that your technician is fully trained and uses environmentally safe chemicals to eliminate pests from your property.
Unfortunately, Hawx also only has branches in 16 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
And if you have unwanted animals living on your property or inside your home, such as chipmunks or squirrels, you’re out of luck — the company doesn’t handle the removal of any animals besides rats and mice.
The table below highlights a few key factors to consider when choosing a pest control company. Hawx Pest Control offers the fewest number of services but also has the cheapest average cost.
While Hawx’s services aren’t quite as comprehensive as other national competitors, such as Orkin or Terminix, the company provides the pest control services most homeowners need.
Its General Pest Control Plan guards against most common household pests, and the company offers more robust services to deal with bed bugs, wood-destroying insects, mosquitos and ticks.
Hawx technicians also service commercial properties, which isn’t the case for all of its competitors.
Unlike many other pest control companies, Hawx doesn’t provide monthly services under the General Pest Control Plan. Instead, technicians visit properties quarterly to inspect and treat them for pests.
Scheduling more frequent visits shouldn’t be an issue, though, thanks to Hawx’s free and unlimited reservice offering. Here are the pests Hawx services under its general plan:
Here is a list of other services Hawx offers:
Hawx provides free estimates both online and over the phone. To ensure we could provide a comprehensive review of the company, we called its team and got an online quote.
Over the phone, we used a 2,176-square-foot home with a 5,052-square-foot yard in Savannah, Georgia. We said we were looking to prevent insects and rodents, which are both covered under Hawx’s General Pest Control Plan. We were quoted $199 for the initial visit and $49 each month throughout the contract. However, with our “valued customer discount,” the initial treatment would only be $49.
On Hawx’s website, we said we wanted the same services, although the online form only asked for a ZIP code as opposed to lot size. It quoted us $250 for the initial visit and $70 each month after. However, we were informed that if we signed up for Hawx online, we’d be eligible for a discount that would bring our initial cost to $100 and our monthly cost to $55.
The technician we spoke to over the phone wanted to perform an inspection of our property before giving us a quote for the Termite Protection Plan. Still, we were able to get a quote online. The initial visit — which involves installing the termite bait traps — costs $2,000. After that, Hawx charges $50 per month to keep the termites at bay.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a quote for bed bug treatment over the phone since an inspection is required. Hawx charges $100 for this pest inspection, which is applied to the total treatment cost. The Hawx technician we spoke to said that, on average, treatments run from $300–$1,000 per affected room.
Whether you sign up online or over the phone, you can get a significant discount on a pest control plan with Hawx. Since we got a more attractive quote over the phone, we recommend calling your local Hawx branch directly.
Here’s a look at the plan costs based on our quotes:
Hawx has a B rating through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and 3.3 out of 5 stars based on over 1,500 customer reviews. Many of the recent negative BBB reviews center on customers struggling to end their contracts with Hawx.
Some customers were dissatisfied with the $199 early termination fee, while others had issues terminating the contract altogether. Hawx team members have been responding to the recent negative BBB reviews to try to rectify each situation.
Hawx’s Google Reviews tend to be much more favorable, though. The Savannah, Georgia, branch has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars through Google Reviews. The other two Georgia branches — both located in Atlanta — have a 4.3 rating and a 4.8 rating, respectively.
The majority of positive Google Reviews, such as this review from Pamela M., highlight the technicians’ friendliness and expertise. Many positive reviews also mention that Hawx’s services effectively remedy their pest woes. Dana M. mentioned that the reservice visits effectively address issues that come up in between routine service calls.
Similar to Hawx’s negative BBB reviews, 1- and 2-star Google Reviews typically mention issues with the customer’s contract. That said, the Hawx team responds to each poor review in an attempt to make things right with the customer.
During our conversation with a Hawx technician, we gained some insights into the process for customers who sign a year-long general pest control contract. Here’s what you can expect if you sign a contract.
Hawx’s first visit to your home includes a full home inspection — inside and out — to determine what pests, if any, you currently have living on your property. After the initial assessment, your technician will create a pest control strategy to eliminate existing pests and prevent new ones from moving in with you.
During our secret shopping call, the Hawx technician offered to come out as soon as the next day to perform the initial inspection.
Hawx only performs four routine treatments per year, so your technician will arrive once every three months. During these visits, your technician will apply the necessary indoor and outdoor preventive pest control treatments and inspect for signs of new infestations. Your technician will also remove any webs or nests during the inspection.
If you sign up for the Outdoor Package Plan, which includes mosquito and tick control, your technician will perform this service in late spring or early summer when the weather starts to warm up.
Once your technician has wrapped up, they’ll send you a detailed report covering everything the technician found, what pest services they performed and even which products they used. The Hawx website also mentions that this report includes photos, which may increase your peace of mind.
Hawx offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of its services, which it backs up with its free and unlimited reserving policy.
By signing up for Hawx services, you’re agreeing to a one-year contract. Attempting to terminate that contract early will result in a cancellation fee.
The Savannah-based technician told us that the cancellation fee would be $199. We can’t substantiate any BBB reviews since we don’t know the circumstances, but a few customers mentioned fees of $300 or more.
With substantial discounts and affordable pricing, Hawx is a great choice if you’re looking to live pest-free without spending a fortune on professional pest control. Plus, in our experience, Hawx offers friendly customer service that you may not find with other companies.
But don’t just take our word for it. We recommend getting estimates from at least three providers and choosing a pest control company based on your budget and specific needs. Regardless of which pest control service you choose, read your contract thoroughly before signing it.
We researched pest control companies to help you choose the best brand for your budget and pest issues. The best pest control companies offer single and comprehensive treatment plans, are certified, hold solid customer ratings and are available nationwide.
We rated companies using our comprehensive methodology. We scored them out of 100 points on their treatment plans, safety, customer service and guarantees. We then divided their scores by 20 to arrive at the 5-star ratings you see in our recommendations.
BBB and Google Reviews are accurate as of March 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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