Most bad experiences share the same warning signs. Here's what to watch for before you hand over a deposit.
I hear the stories after the fact — the deposit that vanished, the 'lifetime guarantee' that meant nothing, the guy who caught two iguanas and left the burrows honeycombing the bank. Almost every bad experience in this business shows the same handful of warning signs up front. If you know them, you can dodge most of the trouble on the first phone call.
None of these guarantees a company is bad on its own. Two or three together is when I'd walk away.
The warning signs
Watch for these before any money changes hands.
- A firm price over the phone with no property walk — they're guessing, and the 'extras' show up later.
- No proof of insurance, or a runaround when you ask for the certificate.
- Pressure to sign a long contract or pay a big deposit before they've seen the property.
- Vague 'lifetime guarantees' with no written scope of what's actually covered.
- Only talking about the iguanas you can see — no mention of burrows, eggs, or climb routes.
- Cash-only, no invoice, no paper trail.
- Claims that a single spray or repellent will 'solve' iguanas for good.
Why the 'firm phone quote' is such a tell
A company that prices a waterfront lot sight-unseen is either lowballing to win the booking and upcharging on arrival, or they simply don't understand that the burrows and climb routes — the things that decide the real work — aren't visible from a phone call. Either way it ends the same: a number that changes once the tech is standing in your yard.
This is why we do the property walk free and put the scope in writing before starting. It's not generosity; it's the only honest way to price a job that depends on what's actually behind your seawall.
What the good version looks like
The opposite of every red flag: a free walk, insurance proof handed over without asking, a written scope, no lock-in contract, and straight talk about the burrow and climb-route work that actually holds a property. Market rates vary, so I won't tell you our numbers are the lowest — single visits from $125, programs from $99 a month — but I will tell you there's nothing hidden behind them.
You can see the full scope on /iguana-removal and the numbers on /pricing before you commit to anything.
Questions we hear
Is a big deposit request always a scam?
Not always, but be cautious with a large deposit demanded before anyone has seen your property — especially paired with cash-only and no invoice. A reputable local company can walk the property first, put a scope in writing, and bill you properly. If the money has to move before the work is even defined, slow down.
Are 'lifetime guarantees' a red flag?
The phrase itself isn't, but a guarantee with no written scope usually is. Ask exactly what's covered, for how long, and what voids it. Iguanas re-colonize from neighboring banks, so an honest company explains what a re-visit covers rather than promising your yard will magically stay empty forever.
Services in this guide
