Candy Groove

Firstly how much does it cost?
Is now a good time to have it done (read somewhere on here that spring is best)?
How effective is it? I'm housesitting at a friends who had it done a week ago (because I was staying here LOL!) and there are still spiders and cockroaches EVERYWHERE. Surely they should be dead now? She paid $200 for inside and outside - is this usual?
Is it harmful to cats and dogs?

We found 19 huntsman spider babies yesterday - slightly freaking out about where the mum is!!

We move into our rental in a few weeks and want to get it right in our own home from the start cos this experience hasn't been much fun.

Any advice would be fantastic

Cheers!

ABCDiamond

We pay about $170 and have it done each January.

Houses that haven't had pest control before, will normally get lots of dead insects in the few weeks after a pest control, while they are being killed off.

Houses that are done regularly, rarely seem to have the same numbers of dead ones. I think I would like to have mine done every 11 months, as I do seem to see the odd cockroach in December. I actually saw one yesterday, first time in 11 months!

That has been from my own experiences. I remember one house we bought, where they were coming out of the woodwork for about 2 weeks, slowly dying off.

Check with the pest company if you need to keep animals away, but our one says their spray does not affect them, or fish or birds. But I think some might.

pumpkin blossom

I suppose that really would depend on what pest control you wanted.
So far in our house we have only had treatments for white ant, and possums. Far more than $200, but a rental so I don't care.
You can buy those bug bomb things, much cheaper. They say you have to move you and all pets from the house for 2 hours after you let them off, but after that it is fine.
We bought some when we first got here, but have not had to use them.

homewardbound

yes cockroaches here too.. not too many but we see none for weeks then 3 in a week - some small, some large... i see them outside at night but its fairly common round here.

Dog has fleas too - he is frontlined every 4 weeks and cleaned daily but as soon as he goes out for a wee he comes back with more grrr

Am going to bomb the house myself as in a rental... what do i need to clear out other than dog and us... will i need to change the beds and rewash clothes? wash the dishes, do i take the food outside???

viviennef

I pay $120 - comes with a year guarantee for cockroaches.

I had it done 2 weeks ago, still have one or two cockroaches in the garage so he is coming back next week to redo it. My guy is really nice and actively encourages you to call him back by calling and asking if you are happy and if you have seen any more.

I try to be away for a couple of days if I can. I also bought some stuff from bunnings and did the barrier around the house

Viv

ponyrama

We bought a christmas tree last week and got a free funnel web with it! She kindly busied herself with laying egg sacs and things behind the picture frame that is next to the Christmas Tree - until we spotted her of course!

R.I.P. Christmas Fairy Funnel Web!

viviennef

poor spidey.

I spend absolutely ages catching things in my house and liberating them while my 6ft 2 builder husband screams, dances and shouts "keell it, keel it"

I thought I would never have a pest guy come but I have convinced myself not to think about it as I cannot stand cockroaches. I would prefer a snake or mouse - they are horrible things

Candy Groove

Poor spidey??? nooooooo!! Funnel webs are nasty fellas - I'm surprised how calm Ponyrama sounds LOL!

Well thanks for all the replies. I'm definitely going to get our own place done before we move in. More cockroaches last night and few spiders but nothing (so far) today.

I think ABCdiamond is right - my friend has never had pest control before and we back right on to bush - our house is lot more suburban so hopefully less nasties creeping me out.

other than the insects Sydney is fab

ABCDiamond

If your house is completely empty when they do it, let them know in advance, as they may be able to do a special spray.
I had that done, once, with a totally empty house, and I know it was very efficient, as the pest control guy wore a gas mask!

We had to leave the house empty for about 12 hours afterwards though.

Candy Groove

oooh that sounds like just what I'm looking for - will start asking around to get somebody booked in. Cheers

I'm happy to go chemical crazy if it means I'm not screaming like a girl every 5 mins like I have been the last few days

Apologies to all those who think spiders are nature's way of killing mozzies and flies - I've got chemicals for those too

ABCDiamond

You can also get some Electronic Spider Control units for about $40, or maybe more, mine was about 5 years ago.

I feel that some of them work, at least the one I bought does.

emelems

I was thinking about bug bombing our house... am going to get some of the cannister ones tomorrow and let them off whilst I go and pick OH up from Brisbane.. will take 4 hours min round trip

Am getting quite a few spiders coming in, but the insects will be taken care of by our lizards (or Gekgos... sp??) so am now worried... will I kill off the Lizards too? Don't want to lose them! They are quite small and scurry about our living area and bedrooms and eat up all the midges!

Any advice?

Em x

Cheetah7

We have a huge redback problem, our bloody kelpie dog enjoys eating them.

Pest control is coming in two weeks to termite treat the house which is done every couple of years and do a pest spray.

Im afraid my cat comes before the spiders so I will use whatever chemicals I have to in order to make the house safe for him.

pumpkin blossom

Other people on here before have said that those bombs also get rid of gekcos.