Ignoring a pest problem almost always makes it worse — and more expensive. Most pest populations grow fast when left alone, and the damage they cause adds up quietly in the background. A problem that costs a few hundred dollars to fix in October can cost several thousand by spring. Here's what actually happens when you wait. Why Waiting Always Makes Things Worse Every pest infestation follows the same basic path: First, one or a few animals get in. The signs are easy to miss.