Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Your customer is on the line, waiting for you to tell him what kind of termites he is dealing with.
Here are some questions that will help you determine what kind of termite it is:
How big is the termite?
Where did you find it?
How wet is it where you found it?
Does it have wings?
What color is it?
Did you see any other signs of termite infestation?
Here is your list of alternate questions:
Is the termite closer to a half-inch long or a quarter-inch long?
Did you find it in the attic or underground?
Was it fairly moist where you found it, or totally dry?
What does it look like? (for both wings and color question)
Besides the termite, did you find anything else, like pellets of sawdust?
You have to be a good communicator in this field, says Melissa Reeves of the Georgia Pest Control Association.
"Because you're bringing chemicals into people's homes, where their families are, you have to explain what you're doing so their fears are allayed," she says.
For example, if you fumigate for termites, the family has to move out for two days. You have to explain that if they go back inside the house in that period, they could die from the fumes!
"It's constant selling and education [in this job]," she says.
You also need good reading comprehension to keep up with the ongoing training in this field.