Before you hire anyone to work your Palm Beach County property, a short list of questions sorts the pros from the rest. Ask if they're licensed and insured, and whether their methods are humane and FWC-compliant. Ask what's actually included — does the price cover collapsing burrows and prevention recommendations, or just catching the ones they can grab?
Ask whether the quote is free and in writing, and whether there's a contract you can't cancel. Ask how they handle waterfront specifically, since seawall and canal-bank work is where most iguana problems live here. The answers tell you fast whether you're dealing with someone who understands the county or someone reading a script.
- Are you licensed and insured, and are your methods FWC-compliant and humane?
- Is the property walk and quote free, and will the price be in writing?
- Is there a contract, and can I cancel anytime?
- Do you collapse burrows and recommend prevention, or just remove?
- How do you handle seawalls, docks, and canal banks?
- Do one-time and ongoing options both exist, and what does each cost?
Listen for specifics, not reassurance
The quality of an answer matters as much as the answer itself. A pro will tell you plainly they're licensed and insured, that the walk and quote are free, that there's no lock-in, and that the plan includes burrows and prevention. Vague reassurance — 'don't worry, we'll take care of it' — without specifics is a soft dodge.
On pricing especially, a straight operator will give you the starting points and explain what moves the number. Total silence or 'we'll tell you when we get there' usually means the price shows up as a surprise later.
Ask about the water
This is the question that separates local crews from the rest. How do they handle seawalls, docks, and canal banks? Waterfront is where the county's iguana problem actually lives, and a company that can talk fluently about bank burrowing, dock-piling guards, and why iguanas keep swimming back is one that's done the work here. If the answer is thin, so is their experience.
Common questions
How do good answers sound?
Straight and specific: yes to licensed and insured, a free written quote, no lock-in, and a clear plan that includes burrows and prevention — not vague reassurances.
What if they dodge the pricing question?
A pro will happily give you starting points and explain what drives the number. Total dodging usually means the price shows up as a surprise later.
Is there one question that reveals the most?
Ask how they handle seawalls and canal banks. Waterfront is where most Palm Beach County iguana work lives, and a thin answer there tells you they haven't done much of it.
