How Much Does Pest Control Cost?
Prices for Pest Control Services in 2020
We all want to avoid those annoying household maintenance costs. Pest control? That’s certainly one of them. However, knowing your property is safe and hygienic is the reassurance that makes the cost worthwhile. A qualified pest controller will apply chemicals that are approved for home use. The application process complies with the most rigorous health and safety standards. Alongside this, most of the chemicals are perfectly safe for humans and pets. Not enough?
Request the eco-friendly treatments only. The cost of ignoring a pest infestation is far greater. The risks that come with pests is the devastating loss of property and health. How much does it cost to get your home squeaky clean? These are the 5 typical factors that influence the cost of pest control, alongside a breakdown of pest control costs below;
1. Pest Types
Certain pests are easy to detect. For example, rat droppings are a dead-giveaway which means there’s limited need for investigation required.
Termites, on the other hand, can nest inside walls. They can remain completely undetected unless we bring in specialised equipment. As a result, the price of pest detection can vary from pest to pest. It’s not just the detection process that’s different – certain types of pests are stubborn and require multiple treatments. Termites, for example, need a series of visits (depending on the treatment you decide to approve). In the case of baiting stations, it can take several weeks to exterminate the pests completely. Others are easily handled with a single visit and an annual follow-up. Most pest control companies will factor in the visits and charge a reduced rate for treatments that require multiple visits.
That said, most pest control companies will also provide you with a preventative care guide to ensure that your treatments last. By paying close attention and changing habits as needed, you can cut down on your pest control costs going forward.
2. Severity of Infestation
Prevention is better than cure. Sometimes pests sneak in, despite rigorous cleanliness. We completely understand. However, the severity of the infestation is going to impact the cost of pest control. This is why it is imperative to address a pest issue before it becomes an infestation.
Naturally, preventative pest control is the cheapest. A mild infestation of rats, for example, is relatively easy to treat and it doesn’t require extraordinarily broad use of chemicals and traps. We would examine the breeding grounds and problem areas and address those. If you’ve left a rat problem to build up over a number of months, you can full-well believe there’s a good number of rats you don’t see, for each one you do. This means we’ll have to bring in the big guns – as in – serious pest control measures. The same goes for other pests like cockroaches.
They breed incredibly fast and as they do, they spread to new areas making it more difficult to tackle them later on when you decide to exterminate.
3. The Treatment
There are many treatment options to choose from. Some prefer eco-pest control treatments which can come with a slightly higher price tag.
These treatments focus on exterminating and deterring pests without impacting the surrounding environment.
Then, there are potent and lethal chemical treatments which are still non-toxic for people. Within these two categories are many more options. There are barrier treatments which simply stop pests from entering your home (which come with a once-off cost). And, baiting stations (which are cheaper but require ongoing top-ups). The treatment you decide to use (we will advise you on your best choice based on your findings) will carry its own price tag.
4. The Number of Treatment Applications (and visits to your premises)
Sometimes, the most thorough pest extermination protocol involves a series of treatments. This is often the case with insects like fleas, bed bugs and termites. Insects lay eggs making it difficult to exterminate the current generation and those waiting to hatch.
Depending on the pest, we’ll recommend a treatment schedule that will wipe out the eggs, larvae, and adults (in the case of insects).
In the case of termites, a baiting station is the most effective way to exterminate the entire colony. However, it can’t be done in a single application. The baiting station (depending on the chemical we opt for) will feed the termites for a few weeks. The termites then carry the toxin deep into the heart of the colony, before poisoning them. In order to achieve this, we have to keep topping up the station.
5. Property Size and Accessibility
An extensive property will have more hideouts for pests. It will also harbour breeding grounds for a greater variety of pests. Even with exemplary hygiene, termites, pigeons, possums and stinging insects like wasps and hornets, can be a problem.
They love trees, rotting wood, and warm cosy areas. If you have a large property, it will require a thorough investigation. You won’t want to exterminate all of the pests in the immediate circumference of your home only to make way for new ones.
Alongside the size of your house and garden, the cost of pest control is also influenced by the accessibility of your property. Sadly, if a termite infestation is left for too long, it can be necessary to remove walls (before they fall down) or to redo parts of your flooring.
Naturally, this impacts the price of your pest control. Addressing the pests that dwell in rafters, under the ground, and in other hard-to-reach locations will also impact the price. We may need to bring specialised equipment or spend time navigating to the area in question.
Pest Control Cost Summary
- The typical costs for pest control treatments in Australia, will be around $150 – $400 for a full interior and exterior treatment. A once-off spray can be as little as $150 for a 3-bedroom house. Average cost for residential pest control is $200 per year.
- Tick and flea treatments range from $99 to $250
- Rodent bait stations are typically around $150 – $300
- Exterior treatment for insects like cockroaches, spiders, and stinging insects is usually $150 – $400
- Termite control and inspections $180 – $450. If you are building in an area that is high risk, a barrier system is a high once-off cost of around $3000. It can keep you from needing the regular treatments on an ongoing basis.
- Building and pest inspections are usually between $300-$600. A pre-purchase inspection is typically around $250.
- Possum removal includes the trapping of the animals and its relocation. Also, any required roof repairs to prevent future entry by other possums. You’re typically looking at around $225. Being an endangered species, possums can not be relocated to a new area, they must remain within their area, which is why the repairs are crucial.
Can You DIY Your Pest Control?
When you’re paying a company to do your pest control, you want to be assured that you are getting trained and qualified professionals. Why? Because you understand that pest control involves work with dangerous chemicals.
That said, it can be quite tempting to simply DIY it and make sure you’re careful about it – but – is it really cheaper? Not according to these calculations;
The cost of purchasing the chemicals is going to be cheaper than what you were quoted for the entire job by a professional. However, when you use a pest controller, you’re not paying for a full drum, you’re only going to pay for the chemicals used. The other costs include travelling (have you included your fuel in your costings to DIY it?), the applicator tools, and the detection tools.
Should You DIY It?
Before you decide to DIY your pest control, ask yourself the following questions;
- Are you certain that the chemical you are using is the most effective and least toxic compound to have in your home around your family?
- Do you know how to apply it according to the health and safety standards in order to prevent ill side effects or harm to your health (or those around you)?
- Have you determined with absolute certainty that the pests are only located in the area where you are seeing them? Usually, pests are nesting somewhere completely out of sight. It takes a trained professional who understands their habits to seek them out.
- Do you know how to treat this particular pest in accordance with its breeding cycle? Ie if eggs hatch after 6 weeks to do the follow-ups accordingly?
- Do you know how to check that you really get them all? In the case of termites, it takes specialist equipment to detect termites, treating the odd stray ant in the house simply won’t do. The consequences of undetected termites in the walls can be absolutely devastating. Many qualified pest controllers battle to get them all – it is highly unlikely that an untrained DIYer can eradicate a pest.
- Do you know the cost of follow up treatments with a professional if your DIY efforts fail? And have you calculated the costs of the potential damage you may face should you fail to exterminate a pest? What about the health implications or devastation should pests damage your home?
How To Identify An Excellent Pest Control Service
Training is important. Ongoing training is just as important. Always seek qualified pest control experts who are up to date. They must be competent in the latest best-practices and use the most contemporary detection tools. A pest control expert should always be a licensed entity with qualified technicians.
Professional pest control services will always perform an evaluation first. Then, they provide you with a written quote alongside their recommendations and their findings. This enables you to get a second opinion using that initial report. A good report will also provide evidence of their findings – this may be audio, visual, or heat reports.
If you feel strongly about certain chemicals, request your pest control service to explain each recommendation. They should enable you to make an informed decision.
The Cost Of Pest Control
The cost of pest control is incredibly broad in terms of what it covers. It covers repair work to your home if pests have caused damage. It covers all of the tools necessary for a proper inspection and a full report, alongside the chemicals and the treatments.
Most importantly, pest control services cover peace of mind. If they didn’t manage to exterminate all of the pests in a single visit, you will be informed and able to schedule a follow up as part of the protocol. You’ll know your family is safe and your home is clean and hygienic.
We hope this helps answer your questions regarding pest control prices in Australia. If you have any more queries please leave a comment or contact us.
This article was published by Scott Dixon from Pro Pest Control Gold Coast www.propestcontrolgoldcoast.com.au a leading pest management company based in South East Queensland.
