Got a call a couple of weeks ago from a guy with a 2 year old hive in his house. It's a vacant house that he is renovating for his mom. When I got there, he said his mom called a pest control company and they quoted her $900 to remove the colony. He said that there was no way they could afford that, but they needed the bees gone. It occurred to me at that point that I hadn't asked him on the phone wether the bees had been sprayed. I never do cut outs if they have and have turned down several this season. Here's where it gets tricky. I asked if they had been sprayed and his response was, "I don't think so."
The hive is in between the first and second story. Inside the home, there was a gap between the dentil moulding and the wall where one or two bees were getting into the house. He had tried to caulk it, but there were still gaps and some bees getting in the house. The primary entrance is outside (obviously) and it's very busy.
My thoughts - in most cases if the homeowner sprays, it's probably just the entrance, and a small amount at that. In this situation, it seems that he could have emptied a couple of cans behind the moulding in the house without getting chased by the bees.
Before I left, I told him to check with his mom and be certain that they weren't sprayed. I told him that if I found evidence during the cutout that they had, I wouldn't proceed. I also tried the honey from the hive test and he agreed to take it. Doesn't mean he's going to eat it though.
He called later and said they had never been sprayed. I reluctantly committed to do this cutout and am a big believer in doing what you say you are going to do. However, I don't trust his response of, "I don't think so." Seems like he would know that. My gut tells me they are saying what they need to say to get the bees gone. BTW - I started out doing these for free to get the experience. I'm charging now, but this was the last free call I got so I'm saving them $900.
The hive is in between the first and second story. Inside the home, there was a gap between the dentil moulding and the wall where one or two bees were getting into the house. He had tried to caulk it, but there were still gaps and some bees getting in the house. The primary entrance is outside (obviously) and it's very busy.
My thoughts - in most cases if the homeowner sprays, it's probably just the entrance, and a small amount at that. In this situation, it seems that he could have emptied a couple of cans behind the moulding in the house without getting chased by the bees.
Before I left, I told him to check with his mom and be certain that they weren't sprayed. I told him that if I found evidence during the cutout that they had, I wouldn't proceed. I also tried the honey from the hive test and he agreed to take it. Doesn't mean he's going to eat it though.
He called later and said they had never been sprayed. I reluctantly committed to do this cutout and am a big believer in doing what you say you are going to do. However, I don't trust his response of, "I don't think so." Seems like he would know that. My gut tells me they are saying what they need to say to get the bees gone. BTW - I started out doing these for free to get the experience. I'm charging now, but this was the last free call I got so I'm saving them $900.