The short answer: it depends on your property
I'm Jon, and I do every job at Deadset myself, so I know how long each one takes and what it needs. Most of the cost of pest control is time and product. Bigger homes take longer to treat. Heavier infestations need more product and sometimes a return visit. Hard access, like a tight subfloor or a roof void with no manhole, slows everything down.
When you look up pest control cost in Brisbane, the price lists you find usually describe the smallest possible job. I'd rather ask a few questions first and give you one fixed number.
What changes the cost of pest control
For a general pest control treatment covering cockroaches, ants, spiders and silverfish, these are the things that set the price:
- the size of the home and the number of storeys
- whether it's highset, lowset or on a slab, and if there's a subfloor to treat
- how bad the activity is, a few spiders compared with a cockroach breeding problem in the kitchen
- outdoor areas such as garages, sheds, pergolas and fences
- whether the roof void needs treating and how easy it is to get into
How much is pest control for roaches?
Cockroach work is priced the same way. A light problem is often covered by a standard general treatment with targeted baiting. A heavy German cockroach problem in a kitchen takes more time, more baiting and usually a follow-up visit, so it costs more.
Every general treatment also comes with my 12-month internal service warranty, and I'll explain what it covers when I quote.
What changes the cost of a termite inspection
People ask me "how much is a termite inspection?" more than almost anything else. The termite inspection cost in Brisbane and Logan comes down to the time it takes to do it properly. That depends on:
- the size of the house and how many rooms there are
- access to the roof void and subfloor
- how many sheds, decks, retaining walls and outbuildings are on the block
- how much timber and garden there is around the property
A termite inspection with me includes a full visual check, Termatrac radar where it's useful and a walk-through of what I found. I don't do pre-purchase timber pest reports, so check what your contract needs before you book.
What changes the cost of termite treatment
How much does termite treatment cost? This is the job with the biggest spread, so any number you see online should be taken with a grain of salt. The main factors are:
- the perimeter of the home, since a treated zone is applied along it
- the construction, as a slab home with concrete paths can need drilling and a highset home may not
- the method that suits the property, whether that's a soil treatment, a baiting system or a mix
- whether there's an active colony in the house to deal with first
- for baiting, how long the stations will be monitored
Some people search "termite barrier cost". No treatment can promise to be a 100% barrier, so I quote for termite treatment and explain plainly what it will and won't do. The same goes for termite removal: getting rid of the termites inside is one part, and protecting the home afterwards is the other.
Rodent and fire ant jobs
Rodent control is priced on what it takes to find out where rats or mice are getting in and to bring the problem under control. A couple of mice in the kitchen is a short job. Rats nesting in a large roof void with several entry points takes longer and usually needs follow-up visits. Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, so the number of entry points matters a lot.
How much is pest control for mice?
Mice are usually quicker to deal with than rats, but the price still depends on the number of entry points, how much activity there is and whether it's in the roof, walls or kitchen cupboards.
Fire ant control depends on the size of the yard, how many nests there are and how much ground needs treating. Acreage blocks around Jimboomba and Logan Village take longer than a suburban backyard. If you suspect fire ants, you also need to report them through Queensland's National Fire Ant Eradication Program or on 13 22 68 (132 ANT).
Commercial and body corporate work
Commercial pest control is priced around the site and what the business needs. A commercial kitchen may need regular scheduled visits, records for food safety audits and work done outside trading hours. Those all affect the price.
Body corporate jobs depend on the number of units, the size of the common areas, whether individual units are included and how often the treatment is scheduled. I'm happy to quote a whole complex or just the common property.
What is included in every quote
When I quote, you'll know exactly what you're getting:
- a fixed price for the work agreed, with no extras added on the day
- what areas will be treated or inspected
- any preparation you need to do beforehand
- the warranty that applies, such as the 12-month internal service warranty on general pest treatments
- what follow-up visits are included, if any
If something changes once I'm on site, I'll tell you before I do anything extra.
Why the lowest quote can cost more
A low phone quote with nothing behind it often skips parts of the job, like the roof void or the outside of the house, which is where a lot of pests live. Then the problem comes back and you pay again.
With termites it can be much worse. A rushed inspection that misses activity in a wall can mean months more damage. I'd rather spend the time and price the job properly.
Cost questions
How much should pest control cost?
It should cost what it takes to treat your home properly. Ask any company what's included, whether the roof void and exterior are treated and what warranty you get, then compare quotes on that basis.
What's the best way to compare a pest control price?
Compare what's actually being done. Check that each quote covers the same areas and the same pests, includes a warranty, and that the price is fixed.
How much should termite control cost compared with a general treatment?
Termite control is a different job and almost always costs more than general pest control. It involves more product, more time and often ongoing monitoring.
Is a termite inspection worth it if I haven't seen termites?
Yes. Termites usually stay out of sight until there's damage, and Australian Standard AS 3660 recommends inspections at least every 12 months.
Is the quote really fixed?
Yes. Once I've seen the property or have the details I need, the price I quote is the price you pay for that work.
Who pays for pest control in a rental?
That depends on the lease and the situation. The Residential Tenancies Authority has the current rules for Queensland tenants and owners.
Do you charge for a quote?
For homes, I give a standard quote based on the details you send me or a quick chat on the phone. For commercial and bigger jobs, the site visit and quote are free, because I need to see the property to price it properly.
Can you quote over the phone?
For general pest control, often yes, if you can tell me the size of the home and what you're seeing. Termite and larger jobs usually need a look first. Call me on 0412 205 586 and I'll tell you which applies.
Get a fixed quote for your property
The honest answer to "how much does pest control cost" is a fixed quote for your home. Tell me the size of the property, the pest and what you've noticed, and I'll come back with a price. Call or text 0412 205 586 or request a quote online.