You killed the trail. The colony is fine.
Ant and cockroach work is a guarantee game. A one-off buys a 6–8 week window, not a dead colony. Recurring trails need a written guarantee programme, and German cockroaches need a professional from the first call.
Is this your stream?
Ants along the kitchen bench, around the bathroom, or marching in from the section, week after week. Cockroaches in the kitchen or bathroom, especially German cockroaches. This stream is about killing the colony, not the scouts.
A first sighting of a small trail is a legitimate $150+ one-off with a 6–8 week guarantee. Buy the programme only when the trail returns inside that window, or when the pest is German cockroaches, where DIY is a delay rather than a treatment.
What it costs in Wellington
The one-off benchmark
MoneyHub's Wellington guide puts ants from $150+ with a 6–8 week guarantee. That is the entry point for a first, small trail.
The programme step
Best Pest offers 3- and 12-month written guarantees for recurring colonies. Programme pricing is quoted, but the guarantee period is the number to compare.
The fast entry
Total Pest runs same-day emergency callouts in Wellington city from $180+GST. Useful when the job is urgent; check GST and guarantee terms on any quote.
Wellington providers, compared
Six operators for ant and cockroach work, led by a named ant specialist. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Spraying ants once and walking away: guarantees run 6–8 weeks on a one-off. Recurring colonies need a written guarantee programme; Best Pest's 3- and 12-month options exist for this reason.
DIY on German cockroaches: they belong on the call-a-professional list from the start, alongside bed bugs and established rodent colonies. Hardware-store spray is a delay, not a treatment.
Stacking one-offs instead of comparing a programme: if the trail is back for the third time inside the guarantee window, price the written programme before buying a fourth one-off.
Not asking what the written guarantee covers: guarantees differ by operator and by pest, and some explicitly exclude fleas. Get the coverage in writing before you pay.
Quoting the job without describing where the trail runs: kitchen bench, bathroom, or a line coming in from the section changes the treatment plan. Say where you see them and when.
Assuming GST is included in a quoted figure: ask. Total Pest, for example, prices from $180+GST, and the same habit applies across quotes in this stream.
FAQ
How much does ant treatment cost in Wellington?
MoneyHub's Wellington guide puts ants from $150+ with a 6–8 week guarantee on a one-off. Longer written guarantee programmes, like Best Pest's 3- and 12-month options, are quoted separately.
How long does a one-off ant treatment last?
The guarantee on a one-off runs 6–8 weeks, per MoneyHub's Wellington guide. If the colony survives and the trail returns after that window, a written guarantee programme is the next step.
Should I call a professional for cockroaches?
For German cockroaches, yes, from the start: they sit on the call-a-pro list alongside bed bugs, cavity wasp nests and established rodent colonies. Minor ant or spider issues are the DIY end of the spectrum; German cockroaches are not.
One-off or programme?
One-off when it is the first sighting and the trail is small. Programme when it has returned within the guarantee window, or when you are dealing with German cockroaches. Best Pest's 3- and 12-month written guarantees are built for the second case.
What should I ask before booking?
What the written guarantee covers (some exclude fleas), whether callbacks are included, whether GST is in the price, and whether children or pets restrict treatment placement.
A first trail is a from-$150 one-off with a 6–8 week guarantee. A returning trail is a written guarantee programme, and Best Pest's 3- and 12-month options are the benchmark there. German cockroaches go straight to a professional. Pestproof for published prices, Total Pest for a fast entry, ZAP and Apex for preventive and Hutt Valley work.