A pest professional will use their knowledge and specialist products (not available in supermarkets) to eliminate the problem and provide lasting protection.

In most situations pest managers will offer a warranty period with any pest treatment, during which they will come back and do a spot treatment for free if the problem flares up.

A trained pest professional will know which products to use and how to apply them to ensure they are safe for your family and pets and have minimal impact on the environment.

No need to spend time at the shops deciding what to buy and carrying out the treatment. Organise the pest professional to come at a time convenient to you, allowing you to focus on other activities.

Although some people compare the price of supermarket products with the price of a professional pest control treatment, it ignores the value of a professional treatment and the guarantee and peace of mind that it comes with. That said, by the time you have added product cost to the time taken to buy and apply the product (and often to carry out a re-treatment), the DIYers often end up spending more money anyway.

When people talk about needing a “Pest Spray”, to a pest manager this means you are after a general pest control treatment to keep your home free from a range of common pests, typically spiders, cockroaches and ants. Typically the pest manager will treat the following areas:

• Exterior of the building and any outdoor entertaining areas (Outbuildings, play equipment, fences if requested)
• Roof void
• Sub-floor (if present)
• Inside the house

• Treatments normally cover the key crawling pests such as spiders, large cockroaches and ants. Some companies will include additional pests as part of their standard treatment.
• If there is a significant pest infestation, the pest company may charge an additional fee.
• There may also be an additional charge for any specific pest problem which requires a specialist pest treatment.

• A spray treatment will typically last 3-6 months, depending on the product used.
• However, your home can remain pest free for much longer as the treatment will have eliminated the pests and they can take some time to re-invade. This is why some pest control companies will offer a warranty or service free period of up to a year.

• Many pest managers will offer a “Service Free Period”, which means if the pests come back during the Service Free Period they will come around and do a spot treatment for free.
• The duration of the Service Free Period will vary between pest control companies and there will be some conditions attached.
• Pest managers will also provide a list of preventative actions you should take to ensure the performance of the treatment and ensure your home keeps pest free for longer.

Some pests will require a specialist treatment – German cockroaches, fleas, mosquitoes and rodents, being common pests requiring a specific treatment using specialist products. These treatments can be either a stand alone treatment or combined with a general pest treatment.

By combining services you can save a significant amount of money. A common combination is a general pest spray + annual termite inspection. This combination ensures you protect both your family and home from pests.

Most pest control companies offer commercial pest control services as well as residential pest control.
Although annual pest treatments may be appropriate for some businesses, other businesses, especially in the hospitality and food management industries, will require regular service plans, often quarterly or monthly.
Quality pest control companies will also provide the appropriate documentation and help you set up the necessary systems to protect your business from pests and comply with any associated regulations.

As pests generally come in from outside there are a number of tips to make the perimeter of your home less attractive to pests. Ideally remove garden beds around the building – the combination of plants, mulch and water make them a hotspot for many pests, including termites. Use plants in pots instead. If you decide to have gardens around the perimeter of the building.

Keep plants well pruned and away from the house. Trim back any over-hanging branches. Avoid or minimise watering the garden beds. Use a non-organic mulch such as pebbles. Avoid using manure or blood and bone fertilisers in the garden bed.

With most pest entering the building from outside, every effort should be made to eliminate the obvious entry points:

• Ensure all screen protectors on doors and windows are in good order and well fitting
• Fill in any cracks around doors, windows and pipework
• Protect weepholes with metal weephole screens (don’t fill them in!)
• If you are susceptible to rodents or possums entering the roof or sub-floor, all potential entry points should be blocked with suitable rodent proof material

• Keep the perimeter of the home, roof void and sub-floor clear of stored goods and rubbish. These create an ideal environment for pests and allow termites to enter the building without being noticed.
• If you must store goods in these areas, store the goods in sealed plastic containers (pests love cardboard boxes) and store them off the ground.
• Ensure all rubbish is placed in sealed bags, places in solid bids with well-fitting lids and stored away from the building
• Do not leave pet food out
• Do not leave dirty dishes, spilt food and food waste laying around
• Make sure the cooker, oven, grill, dishwasher, toaster, microwave and fridge are cleaned regularly (including underneath) to remove any food residues
• Store food in sealed plastic containers
• Make sure there are no leaks from dripping taps, pipework or gutters
• Eliminate any pools of standing water (potential mosquito breeding sites)
• Regularly vacuum all rooms, especially around the edges and under heavy furniture