Integrated Pest Management: What It Means in Practice

Reviewed September 16, 2026.​

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, means making decisions from the pest and the conditions found at a property. It combines identification, monitoring, prevention and suitable control measures, followed by a check on the results.

Start with a useful record

For a home, note where and when you see activity. For a business or managed building, keep a shared sighting log so reports from staff or residents reach the person coordinating service. A repeated problem in a delivery area calls for a different investigation from an isolated insect at a window.

Agree on the next step

Depending on the problem, the plan may include food-storage changes, repairs, exclusion, trapping or an appropriate pesticide treatment. IPM does not mean that pesticides are never used, and it is not a blanket claim that a product is harmless or “eco-friendly.” Product labels and service instructions still apply.

Assign responsibility

A recommendation to repair a door gap is only useful if someone knows who will arrange the repair. Managers should discuss access, maintenance responsibilities, preparation and how unresolved conditions will be reported. Keep the service record with the building's other maintenance information.

Review the outcome

Ask what will be monitored and when the plan should be reassessed. A visit is one part of a process; repeated activity should lead to another look at the evidence and conditions.

For a Northern New Jersey home or commercial property, call (201) 798-0087 or use Request service to discuss what is happening at the site.

Source: EPA, Integrated Pest Management Principles.

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Put the approach into practice

Our service overview and business pest control page explain how property type affects the work. The inspection planning article covers evidence, access and the limits of what can be observed. Contact our team to discuss the findings and responsibilities at your property.

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