Is year-round preventive pest control worth it for North Shore homes?

Yes. North Shore homes face more pest pressure than most of Chicagoland: older construction with more entry points, mature trees, ravines, and lakefront moisture. Home Guard is scheduled prevention — quarterly exterior barrier treatments plus interior and exterior rodent management — so ants, spiders, wasps, and mice are stopped before they become an infestation instead of treated after.

How much does preventive pest control cost on the North Shore?

Home Guard Premium is a flat monthly rate based on your home's size and the level of rodent protection it needs, with no surprise per-visit charges. A free inspection and written quote takes about 20 minutes, and there's no obligation.

Is year-round pest control safe for kids, pets, and gardens?

Yes. Smithereen is Green Shield Certified and uses targeted, EPA-registered materials applied by licensed technicians, with treatment plans adjusted for pets, play areas, and vegetable gardens. Because Home Guard is primarily exterior, there's very little product inside your home.

Does Home Guard include mice and rodent control for North Shore homes?

Yes. Rodent management inside and out is included in Home Guard Premium — not an add-on. At each visit our technician inspects the foundation, crawl-space doors, and utility entry points, seals gaps, and maintains exterior rodent stations, which matters most from October through March when mice move indoors.

How often does year-round pest control service visit, and what happens each time?

Four scheduled visits a year, one per season, plus free re-service any time in between. Each visit includes an exterior barrier treatment around the foundation, doors, and windows; removal of cobwebs, wasp nests, and egg sacs; a rodent and entry-point inspection; and interior treatment whenever you request it. The service targets what's active that season — ants and wasps in warm months, rodents and overwintering insects in fall and winter.

How is preventive pest control different from calling an exterminator for a one-time treatment?

A one-time treatment addresses the pests you can see today; preventive pest control keeps them from coming back. Home Guard maintains a continuous barrier, catches new activity at each seasonal inspection, and covers 25+ pests under one plan, so you're not paying for a separate service call every time a new problem shows up.

Which North Shore towns does Smithereen serve for year-round pest control?

Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Northfield, Northbrook, Glenview, Golf, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles, and Lincolnwood. Our technicians are based in Niles, so we're minutes away rather than dispatched from downtown.

What if pests come back between quarterly pest control visits?

We come back at no charge. That's the Home Guard free re-service guarantee, and it's in writing. Call or text and we'll schedule a return visit, usually within a few days.

Do I need to be home for exterior pest control service?

No. Home Guard visits are primarily exterior, and we'll text you before and after each service. Most of our North Shore clients never adjust their schedule for us; if you'd like an interior treatment, we simply schedule that visit around you.

When is the best time to start pest control on the North Shore?

Now, before rodent season peaks. Mice begin moving indoors as nights drop into the 40s in October and November, and exterior sealing and stations are most effective when they're in place beforehand. Starting in any season is fine — the first visit is always tailored to what's active at your home.

Smithereen Videos

See how we treat, what to expect from a visit, and how to identify the pests we handle across Chicago’s North Shore, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Wisconsin and Nashville. Subscribe on YouTube for new videos.

Featured video

Our Home Guard program keeps your home protected every season, with scheduled visits and no long-term contract.

Get a Free Quote

All videos

3 Things Around Your Home That May Be Attracting Rodents

Rodents are always looking for food, water, and shelter. Here are 3 things around your home that may be making it more attractive to them. Need help with a rodent problem? Smithereen Pest Management is here to help. Visit Smithereen.com to learn more or request service.

Get a Free Quote

Why Fall Is One of the Most Important Times for Pest Control

A seasonal pest service can help strengthen the barrier around your property and catch activity before it turns into a bigger problem indoors. If you want to help protect your home this fall, call Smithereen for a quote.

Get a Free Quote

Smithereen Videos

Featured video

All videos

3 Things Around Your Home That May Be Attracting Rodents

Why Fall Is One of the Most Important Times for Pest Control

Request Service

Service Areas: