Stroud, Gloucester, Dungog, Bulahdelah and surrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach out at hello@valleyspest.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Pest control doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg at all (unless you have eight or more of them).
Our services range from just $185 for a spider or cockroach treatment up to around $265 for a general pest treatment (for cockroaches, ants and spiders all at once) to a standard house.
An annual termite inspection will cost you around $260 and if termites are located; treatment varies from around $450 to $1450 depending on various factors that will be identified during your inspection. Prices are current as of May 2023.
You can be assured that our prices are fair and competitive as we regularly review our costs both against our own expenses and against equivalent services in the industry and strive to always keep our prices fair and reasonable.
If budget is a concern, have a chat to us and we will come up with an appropriate treatment plan and a payment plan so that you don't have to come up with the whole cost upfront.
Firstly, by choosing one of our several package deals. Our packages allow you to receive each service at a discounted rate, provided they are performed on the same day. You can have your annual termite inspection and your general treatment performed on the same day, and save $140 (compared with the price of each service individually).
Follow us on @ValleysPest Facebook page where we post special offers and deals from time to time, and sometimes have last minute openings at a discounted rate. If you want to bundle services that aren't in a package, just ask.
You will also get the greatest value by following your pest expert's advice on methods to reduce your risk of pest infestation; check out the information provided under the page for each specific pest.
When it comes to termites, prevention is always better than the cure! A termite management system might seem pricey at the outset, but when you compare that with the price of treatment when an active colony is invading (and unfortunately, lightning may strike more than once with termites) and the price of repairing the damage they've done, the system really isn't that costly at all.
This is absolutely a fair concern to have but be assured that we have the expertise, knowledge and skills to perform treatments in a manner that will cause no harm to you, your little ones or your pets. We will always perform treatment with a safety first approach, and by strictly following the guidelines of the product used. Once the spray has dried on the surface, it is safe to touch. Our practiced technique ensures that no run off will occur, and so the chemical is only applied to the areas where it is needed. But if you are still worried, have a chat to us about your concerns and we can address your worries, and adapt the treatment plan if preferred. We would always prefer to talk to you about your concerns than have you feel uncomfortable or stressed!
Most treatments, such as those performed for spiders, cockroaches & ants have the best effect when they are performed annually. The chemical used for these services can last from around 9 months to 12 months depending on different environmental factors and so most of our clients have an annual repeat. If you want to be absolutely assured that you will never have to deal with a spider or cockroach, as some of our clients ask; we recommend having the treatment performed every 6 months. The benefit of this is that with the 6 month warranty we provide, it gives you not only year-round protection with the treatment, but the guarantee that if you do see a spider, we will return to perform additional treatment for no additional cost.
There's no need to worry about when you pest control service will be due for a repeat, as we will contact you just before the 6 or 12 months has elapsed to arrange a suitable time to perform your repeat service.
You can also get increased longevity of treatment when you follow the advice of your pest controller and make some simple changes around the home, where applicable. The goal is to create an environment that is less appealing to pests, so things like emptying your bins more regularly (especially if they contain food scraps), not leaving unwashed dishes out and even running the dishwasher more regularly so the dishes inside don't sit with food scraps on them (creating a food source for pests). Regular cleaning of surfaces, particularly those in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry are important - just don't do go on a cleaning spree immediately after your pest treatment as the chemical needs some time to dry and adhere to the surfaces before you can clean without wiping it off. For more information on how to deter pests, see the information on each specific pest in the General Pest Services menu, or ask us when we attend.
There are many things you can do to prevent cockroaches taking over your home and/or to assist with a pest treatment. Pest treatment is most effective when it's a collaborative effort between the Pest Expert and the Client, and this means you'll get the most bang for your buck and potentially get even longer effect than the warranty period.
Cockroaches love areas that are moist and/or warm, with bonus points for a nearby food source. This is why we'll commonly find them, or signs that they've been there, in cupboards under kitchen or bathroom sinks, in and/around dishwashers, in sinks, under kettles or modems etc. The cleaner you keep your home, especially in these key areas - the bathroom, kitchen, toilet, laundry - the less risk you have of a cockroach infestation. By emptying your bin every day, or at least every time there are food scraps thrown away, you're removing a potential food source. Dirty dishes are another potential meal, even if there's only small remnants remaining - so clean and put away dishes as quickly as you can, and run your dishwasher often. You should have a pest treatment every year and maintain these methods in between, so that there are always measures in place to prevent an infestation and you should be cockroach free for the long term.
There are two equally important actions you should take in order to protect your home by preventing a termite infestation.
- schedule a termite inspection at least once a year. The termite inspection will not only identify any termites that are actively invading your home, but identify any factors that are putting you at higher risk of termite infestation, and provide recommendations to how you can reduce that risk. The more risk factors you can address, the lower your risk of damage from termite infestation will be.
- have a termite management system installed, and have this regularly checked and maintained by a pest control professional.
In the unlikely event that the treatment is not effective, you are covered by a 6 month warranty following a general treatment; spider, cockroach or ant treatment. This means that once the treatment has had time to take effect, if you are still having any issues, we will return to perform additional treatment at no additional cost. We guarantee that you will be happy with the outcome, and stand by that promise, so if you're not happy, our job is not yet done! The only exclusion is ants to the exterior of the property.
That is completely up to you. It is perfectly safe for you to remain at home and you can be assured that our pest expert won't perform any treatment that would cause harm to come to you. In saying that, if you'd prefer to go out, that's perfectly fine also. Depending on the type of treatment being performed, there may or may not be need to access the interior of your home (for example, for a spider spray to be performed we usually only need access to the exterior of your home and outbuildings). If you are planning to leave or will not be home during the scheduled appointment, just let us know when booking, and we can advise what kind of access will be required. Many of our clients will simply provide the details of a key safe or key location or an alternative way of accessing the property (ie. through the back gate and in by the side door) and our pest expert will just lock up on their way out.
The areas that will be treated are largely determined by what type of pest is being treated for. Our pest experts are familiar with the different types of pests, their characteristics, habits and behaviours, and so develop and implement a treatment plan based upon these factors. So the treatment will be focussed upon that particular pest's harbourage areas - where they like to hang out and where they usually travel. For a spider treatment, you can expect the treatment to primarily focus upon exterior surfaces of your house, any outbuildings like sheds, the garage, verandah/patio, pool area etc. Whereas for a cockroach treatment, the focus would be upon the interior of your home, with particular focus on harbourage areas in kitchens and bathrooms, in the warm and moist areas that they like to congregate. If you choose a general treatment, which treats for cockroaches, ants and spiders, the treatment will be performed to the interior, exterior, subfloor, roof void and any outbuildings; it is the comprehensive nature of this service that is why we recommend it to many households.
Whilst you may not have seen them, that doesn't mean they weren't there, and this is evidence of that. Cockroaches are nocturnal by nature, so they are most active at night. Even if you're a night owl, chances are they will wait until you're not around before they venture out of their hiding places. Once treatment is initiated, they become irritated by the chemical and run out from their harbourage areas. At least it makes it easier to clean up.
If your question hasn't been answered, get in touch with us directly and we'll be more than happy to assist. If it's a question we think others would benefit from hearing the answer, we might even add it to the site. We are constantly adding more information to this website, and on our Facebook you'll find all kinds of pest-related information and facts.