What’s the pest?
“Pest control” is really six different jobs with six different price logics. A one-off with a callback warranty for wasps and single rodent events. A treatment-plus-plan model for ants and bush-fringe rodents. And for bed bugs and borer, know what you are getting into before you book: both are specialist territory with costs that surprise people.
Wasps
A kill-the-nest job, usually under an hour. DIY suits tiny accessible paper-wasp nests only; a nest in a wall cavity, roof void or underground needs a professional.
Rats & mice
A single event gets a one-off treatment with warranty. Roof-cavity rats and bush-fringe sections need proofing and ongoing cover, not just bait stations.
Ants & cockroaches
Argentine ant colonies re-invade after one-off sprays: the working model is an initial treatment plus quarterly callbacks. German cockroaches need a professional.
Bed bugs
Multiple insecticide visits or a full-day heat treatment. The highest-cost, highest-relapse pest, and apartments need building-wide coordination.
Borer
A proper inspection often finds no active infestation, so pay for the report first. Active infestations need flight-season spray or subfloor timber treatment with a multi-year horizon.
Fleas & spiders
Flea spray fails without pet treatment and a vacuuming regime running alongside. Spiders are a seasonal one-off. No published flea-specific prices in our data yet.
Not sure which stream?
How the streams compare
| Stream | One-off vs plan | Price range | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasps | One-off | $120–$350 per nest | A nest you can point at; kill-the-nest, under an hour |
| Rats & mice | One-off or programme | From $199 | A single event, or ongoing cover near bush |
| Ants & cockroaches | Treatment plus plan | From $220 | Argentine ants, German cockroaches that keep coming back |
| Bed bugs | Multi-visit programme | $245–$430+ per room | Bites and relapse risk; apartments need coordination |
| Borer | Inspection first | From $253 inspection | Older homes, flight holes, timber worries |
| Fleas & spiders | One-off | Roughly $150–$350 | Pets with fleas, seasonal spiders |
Auckland realities that change the job
Bush-fringe suburbs have persistent rodents. Properties backing onto the Waitakere Ranges, bush reserves or green corridors see constant rodent re-invasion pressure. A one-off treatment resets the clock; an ongoing baiting programme with proofing is the honest answer for those sites.
Bed bugs in apartments need coordination. Auckland’s apartment stock means bed bug treatment often requires building-wide coordination: adjacent units, common areas, building management. Heat treatment needs power or generator access for a full day. Factor this into both cost and timing before booking.
Restricted toxins need a certified handler. Commercial use of acutely toxic substances (6.1A/6.1B), fumigants and vertebrate toxic agents legally requires a WorkSafe certified handler. Check certification status before booking rodent or borer work. Possum trapping on your own land is legal for anyone, but poisons are not.