Pest companies are happy to give estimates of the work over the phone so it is worthwhile contacting two or three to ascertain pricing.
These companies are also able to offer pre purchase inspections or annual inspections to determine the presence of unwanted pests. From this inspection it can be determined what programme of treatment your property will require. Some homeowners opt to treat their properties on a regular basis while others prefer to treat when necessary.
Possums The possums found in domestic roof spaces are almost always brush tails. Ring tails live in nests in gum trees. Brush tails are solitary animals and live alone. They sleep in the roof all day and leave early in the morning. If you can, try to find where the possum exits and block the hole. Look for any other exit and entry points and block them with something like wire mesh to prevent further problems. If you cannot find entry points and have continual problems, some councils will hire traps for you to use. You must then release the possum in the nearest bushland.
Hint: some homeowners recommend that you install a light in your roof which you can leave on continually to deter possums from settling in your roof space. Camphor balls in the roof will also deter the possums.
Birds entering and nesting in roof and gutter areas can be a problem in some areas and specialist pest services deal with bird proofing these areas with mesh guards and the like.
The most common birds to invade roofs are starlings, sparrows and minors. Birds enter the roof through small holes to nest. The birds carry lice which can be difficult to eradicate and if not treated can enter the home itself.
Rats abound in most areas in Sydney and as they are nocturnal they are not often seen. Often the first evidence of rats is the noise in the roof at night where they are nesting. They carry vermin which can be difficult to eradicate.
Rat infestation is relatively easy for professionals to detect and entry points can be identified and blocked off and the rats poisoned.
General pests....treatment of the inside of the home generally targets cockroaches, carpet beetles, silverfish and spiders. Outside ground spiders and cockroaches are targeted. Ants and outside webbing spiders require specialist products and are thus treated separately if required.
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Prior to you purchasing a home most lending authorities will require a recent pest inspection certificate. Even if you are not dealing with a lending body it is sensible to have an inspection done as damage or infestation that you cannot see may cost you large amounts of money in treatment and repairs.
Obtain quotations from a few companies as they will usually have a standard charge. Ensure the company is licensed and ascertain what guarantees they are offering in the unlikely event that a problem surfaces down the track.
Treatments
Many householders like to have their homes treated annually to control the presence of spiders, cockroaches, silverfish etc. Others find they prefer only to treat an infestation problem when it arises. Whichever road you prefer to take it is vital to ensure that the pest service is carried out by licensed operators who will guarantee the work. In most cases guarantees are for 12 months and if in this period the problem should recur they will be happy to re-treat the area free of charge.
Spray products used these days are all low toxic and low irritant. Those used inside have little or no smell and are safe to spray while the occupants are in the home. The Government restricts tightly the chemicals which can be used and some used in past years are now totally banned. For those who prefer, some companies specialise in the use of non-chemical treatment of pest problems.
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