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.
Carpet moth
Case-bearing clothes moth larvae eat wool carpets and rugs, working from the edges and under furniture. Auckland's humid months speed up the lifecycle. Residual spray or steam treatment.
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 |
| Carpet moth | One-off residual spray or steam | $175–$310 guide | Wool carpets and rugs; larvae do the damage |
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.