Exploring Opportunities for Off-peak Months

When drywood termites swarm — alerting homeowners they have an infestation — demand for fumigations increases accordingly. But what about those times of year when termites aren’t swarming? What are some of the ways fumigation companies position themselves to create an ongoing stream of work when drywood termites are not top of mind for most homeowners? Finding ways to stay consistently busy not only ensures a constant flow of revenue but also helps retain employees as well, because they remain busy even during times when termites aren’t swarming.

Target ZIP Codes With a High Incidence Rate

Some fumigation companies target neighborhoods where they have conducted many fumigations in the past, says Erich Hobelmann, a Douglas Products business development manager in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“When the salespeople or crew has some downtime in between jobs, they do what we call ‘cloverleafing,’ where they go door to door with flyers or doorhangers to alert homeowners of the high incidence of infestations in the area,” Hobelmann says. “It’s unlikely that just one house on the street is infested, so they should be talking to other neighbors about getting a termite — or even a general household pest — inspection done.”

Leverage Fumigation for Other Pests

There are many other target pests on the product label for Vikane. Vikane is a unique and efficient way to eliminate infestations of bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas or rodents, to name a few, says Matt Fabry, a Douglas Products business development manager in California.

“Fumigation offers consumers confidence and peace of mind because it effectively and immediately eliminates the target pest infestation,” Fabry says.

When they learn they have an infestation, homeowners appreciate that fumigation offers them a unique treatment that can efficiently treat the problem quickly and in one shot, so they can quickly get back to their normal day-to-day lives.

“When consumers have bed bugs, it’s like having a fire,” says Wes Otani, national sales leader for Douglas Products. “They want the problem taken care of immediately, not like other treatment methods where you might have to go back to re-treat. Fumigation for bed bugs with Vikane is a one-and-done solution.”

Being able to thoroughly inspect and evaluate a property to locate and identify other pests and infestations that are on the product label for Vikane is key to making the most of the off-peak season. When you find pest feces during an inspection, that’s usually a clear indication that there’s an infestation.

When you find pest feces during an inspection, that’s usually a clear indication that there’s an infestation.

Company Checkup

Downtime also can be optimized by doing repairs on tarps, doing checkups and calibrating equipment, holding annual trainings and focusing on recruiting new staff. Other suggestions to staying busy during slower months include:

• Setting aside larger or more complex jobs to perform during the slower time of year. For example: Jobs with very steep roofs or slate roofs require more time and care.
• Working with termite inspectors to help them educate homeowners about the fumigation process so jobs are better prepared for the fumigation.
• Finding creative ways to show appreciation for employees, such as hosting an employee recognition day or a company barbecue, whether it’s catered or — better yet — the boss cooks for the crew.

Contact your Douglas Products representative to learn more about off-peak fumigation opportunities.