Warmer temperatures and rainy weather are bringing out various insects you probably don‘t want in your home.In the spring and summer months, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona generally sees an increase in consumer inquiries for pest control companies.

Nationally, BBB received more than 4,100 complaints regarding pest control services in 2012. Most alleged work not being completed according to signed contracts and inflexibility in scheduling when warranty issues arose.

When the job gets too big for home remedies, keep the following tips in mind before hiring a pest control service:

• Research the company. Check any pest control company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org before signing a contract. Look at the company’s rating, how it has responded to customer complaints and any advertising issues it may have.
• Compare prices. Solicit bids from at least three different pest control companies before making a decision.
• Ask about safety. Because pesticides and pest control products could be dangerous to touch or inhale, be sure to ask the company about the safety of the chemicals they use. Let the company know if you have pets, children or sensitive plants as that may impact the products they select for your home.
• Check for licensing and insurance. Make sure the company meets state licensing requirements. Also, be sure to ask for proof of the company’s insurance and coverage for any potential property damage or personal liability.
• Carefully review your contract. Be sure you fully understand the nature of the pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.

Spring is in the air and with it a desire to get outside and start cleaning up, fixing up, repairing, and maybe evening rebuilding. But let’s face it; there are only so many hours in a day to accomplish all that needs to be done.

Most of us lead hectic lives: School, work, volunteer projects, hobbies, chasing kids, travel etc., leaving little time for home projects big or small. Unless working on your home is your idea of fun – and for many it is – then it’s time call in the pros to help.

The cool thing is that finding a trustworthy business is the same whether you’re looking for-a re-modeler, handyman, plumber, painter, landscaper- is quick and easy, just www.bbb.org.

If you need help around the house Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona offers the following tips:

• Use bbb.org to find trustworthy businesses. Start your search with BBB Business Directory to find BBB Accredited contractors in your area. If you are referred to a business through friends, family or an advertisement, verify the business is in good standing at bbb.org before contacting them.

• Compare costs. Get at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project. BBB’s Request-a-Quote service is free to use and will allow BBB Accredited Businesses to send you quotes via email. Understand variations in price may be associated with quality of materials.
• Call references. Ask all contractors to provide local references and find out if those customers were satisfied with the work performed. If possible, visit a completed project to inspect the quality of workmanship.
• Check licensing. Licensing requirements vary depending on where you live. Contact your local municipality to find out what’s required of contractors.
• Beware of high upfront fees. Contractors may require a down payment before work begins, but it should not be a significant portion of the total cost. Instead, make payments that align with the progress of the work completed. Make sure you are satisfied with the work before making a final payment. Never pay in cash. Instead, use a credit card in case an issue arises.
• Review your contract thoroughly. Make sure it includes all of the materials needed to complete the job, an itemized list of all costs involved, any subcontracted labor and a warranty for all work performed. Consider having a trusted friend or relative review the contract with you.
• Verify insurance coverage. Find out if the company is insured against claims covering workers’ compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Verify coverage directly with the business’ insurance company if possible.

With Mother’s Day coming up – and Father’s Day not far behind – many consumers will turn to the Internet to find great gifts for mom or dad. Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona reminds consumers that some sites offering deeply discounted gifts are actually schemes to steal credit-card numbers or other personal information.

Some scammers send emails reminding people that the holiday is coming and suggesting a possible gift, such as cut-rate flowers, jewelry, shoes or designer clothing for moms. For dads, they may offer sports cars, gourmet hamburgers or golf accessories, for example.

While there are certainly many legitimate shopping sites online, scammers also lurk, ready to steal your credit card number and with no intention of delivering the goods. These scams are known as phishing because the scammers are “fishing” for unwary consumers who might give away sensitive personal information.

“Online shopping is so popular that it’s easy to let down your guard,” said Kim States, BBB President. “But consumers need to be sure they’re dealing with a legitimate site. Otherwise, they may end up buying trouble rather than a gift.”

Consumers should be wary of offers that are too good to be true, such as gifts that are being sold at discounts of 50 percent or more. Look out for spelling or grammar errors in the email, and check the email address that the offer is coming from to make sure it matches the name of the business that is allegedly offering the deal.

If you aren’t familiar with the site offering the gift, check the company’s BBB Business Review at www.bbb.org.

BBB has the following tips to avoid phishing schemes:

• Don’t trust unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from familiar businesses or agencies.  If you’re concerned about the validity of an email, contact the business or agency directly by phone or through its website to ask about the offer.
• Don’t open any attachments in suspicious emails and don’t click on any links or give any personal information unless you are confident where it is going. If you have concerns, run your cursor over a link (but don’t click it) to determine if the actual link is the same as the one shown.
• Delete any suspicious email from your inbox and from your trash or recycling folder.
• Don’t give your Social Security number, bank account number or any other personal information to unfamiliar persons contacting you by phone or by mail.
• Be wary of misspellings, poor English, lots of capital letters or other signs that the person or persons contacting you may not be legitimate.