While many people find that talk of insects makes their skin crawl, Jacob Borg, owner of local pest control company Pointe Pest Control LLC, says the bug business here is booming.  

“This is a very competitive business,” says Borg. “I think sometimes we get portrayed as the stereotypical exterminator type, but the reality is we are trained professionals, with the goal of protecting people’s health and properties.” 

Borg, who co-owns the business with his wife, Joni, says he first got a feel for the industry while working his way through college as a door-to-door salesman for a pest control company. 

“Last year was actually the first year since 1997 that I didn’t spend at least some time out there knocking on doors,” he says. 

Borg holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Boise State University, and a master’s degree in business from the University of Phoenix, Spokane campus.  

Pointe’s services include inspecting and treating a home’s exterior and sometimes interior spaces. Exterior treatments can include spraying insecticide around building foundations, doors, windows, eaves, and shrub beds. 

In addition to pest control, the company also inspects and cleans or treats crawl spaces and attics. Those projects often include an energy audit with a quote for insulation products that can improve home energy efficiency.

“We’re different than most big pest control companies, in that we never try to diagnose the problem and sell services over the phone,” says Borg. “We always visit in person to determine what we’re dealing with and the best treatment option.”

The company offers its services to both residential and commercial customers. Among its clients are schools, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, office and warehouse building owners, apartment complexes, stores, and government agencies. 

“Commercial is a big deal,” says Borg, adding that businesses involved in food preparation and hospitality are particularly dependent on customer health, safety, and comfortability. 

“We have a full team of professionals dedicated to just commercial work, so those businesses can stay operational and up to industry standards,” he says.

Borg says he estimates that about 80 percent of the company’s revenues come from residential accounts, with the remaining 20 percent being commercial work. He says a majority of calls are about ant problems, followed closely by spiders, stinging insects, and rodents. 

According to Borg, popular services vary according to region and season, with the busiest season running from March to October. 

“Just because it’s less busy doesn’t mean we’re not planning and coordinating year-round. People don’t realize, bugs, and pests don’t just go away or die in the winter,” he says. 

Borg founded the Post Falls-based company in 2006, working from his garage in Hauser, Idaho. 

The business celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, adding six Oregon locations to its roster of 20 service centers in Washington and Idaho. 

The company just moved into its new headquarters, a two-story, 8,500-square-foot office and warehouse structure at 6020 W. Seltice Way, this past December.  

Although he declines to disclose the company’s annual revenues, Borg estimates they have increased by more than 50 percent in the last year, due mostly to the addition of the Oregon service centers and he anticipates a similar increase this year. 

“The Oregon locations have really added to our business,” he says.  

Borg says the heart of the business is its 69 employees, the majority of whom are either sales or service professionals working in the field. 

For Borg, pest control is less about exterminating insects and more about managing populations. 

“We don’t lead with the idea of elimination,” he says. “Our industry focuses on integrated pest management, looking at alternative solutions to the problem, rather than just spray.” 

Alternatives solutions might include removing nests, sealing off open spaces or cracks, cleaning, and eliminating attractants such as improperly stored food. 

Borg says the company’s pest-control products are all highly regulated, but when used properly are completely safe. 

“We do have some strictly organic products for those customers who are concerned about that, along with our general-use products,” he says. 

Borg says the initial consultation is free, and prices for first treatments vary according to what kind of pest is involved, but can run from $145 to $300. 

Borg says usually the company recommends scheduling recurring preventive treatments, or a quarterly follow-up visit, which can run from $90 to $100 each visit. 

 “We don’t charge for call-backs or touchups,” he says. “Some of our treatments can be affected by weather, with rain washing it away.”

Borg says people also have to understand that some wild animals, insects included, will return to the same appealing places to build their nests or hunt for food. 

“Those are the kinds of alternative solutions we look for, finding ways to seal off areas or do preventative maintenance like knocking down nests before they’re fully formed,” he says.

Borg says the company also does a fair amount of termite work, which is more expensive, typically running from $750 to $3,000 and requiring an annual check-up renewal of $300 per year.

According to Borg, the company’s other big business comes from bed bug treatments. 

“People are always fascinated by the bed bug stuff,” he says. 

Depending on the size of the property, and whether it’s commercial or residential, the cost of a bed bug treatment can run anywhere from $250 to $2,000.  

Pointe offers two main treatments for bed bugs, heat and liquid. The heat treatment involves bringing mobile heating units to the location, along with high power fans, all of which connect to a portable generator that will remain outside on a truck.

The heaters bring the affected rooms up to a temperature that is past the bug’s tolerance point. 

Borg says this treatment is probably the most environmentally friendly, but the equipment is expensive, so the company only has a total of two portable generators it uses in its work. This can mean heat treatments are scheduled months in advance. 

“Depending on the location, the size of the infestation, and whether the equipment is available, we can either do a heat treatment, a liquid treatment, or a combination of both,” he says.

Liquid treatments involve spraying the affected areas with specialized bed bug products made for indoor use, but that method too will kill the bugs and their larvae. 

According to Borg, his service employees have seen bed bug infestations in all types of settings, from low-income homes to more high-end residences.  

“People pick up these bugs up as they travel, through hotel stays, transportation, or even staying with friends,” he says. “It’s not about how clean your home is.” 

Borg says Pointe can use special monitors, or even trained canines to detect bed bugs. 

The company sells mattress encasements to help prevent beg bugs. These cover mattresses in a plastic case, preventing the bugs from hiding in its crevices. 

He says Pointe has purchased several smaller companies over the years, including one in the Tri-Cities area, one in Yakima, and five in the Spokane area. 

While the industry is booming, Borg says some aspects of pest control are more challenging given today’s technology. 

“With smartphones, everyone suddenly uses Google to become an expert on their pest problem,” he says. “On the flipside, our service professionals can now bring iPads with them on calls and create comprehensive case files with photos attached.” 

Borg says technology also saves on the need for paper surveys and advertising, and allows service employees to input customer feedback directly following a service call. 

“Every customer’s tolerance level is different, and pest trends vary every year so we adjust accordingly,” he says. “This year with a light winter and an early spring, everything is ahead of schedule.”