How Much Does Pest Control Cost?

How are pest control prices calculated?

Pest control services cover a wide range of vermin and treatments, which can make it difficult to know when you’re getting a good deal. So, what actually matters for the final price of pest control?

The size of your house

As you’d imagine, larger properties can be more expensive to treat, since more areas need attention. Pests can spread easily throughout a house, so the larger your home, the more spots they have to settle in. 

The type of pest

The service cost can change depending on what critter the exterminators will have to face. This is because each pest requires a different solution to remove. For instance, wasp nest removal cost may only be around £75. They are easy to find and easy to remove (if you know what you’re doing), as most of their activity is centred around the hive.

Compare this to the price of rat removal. Rodents are much more elusive and can spread throughout an entire property, meaning it can be difficult to see where they are coming from. Not only are you paying for the tools required to deal with them (traps, etc.), but also the closure of any rodent holes that allowed them to enter in the first place. Because of this, costs are steeper, coming in at a starting rate of £165. 

The size of the infestation

Depending on how severe the infestation is, changes in price can occur. Smaller issues are usually simpler to get rid of, and it’s easy to pinpoint what areas might require the most attention. Larger infestations can take much longer, though. For more severe cases, repeat appointments may have to be made to completely get rid of the problem. Naturally, any extra appointments will carry their own charge.

The type of treatment

There are a variety of different treatments for each pest, all of which may affect the cost. As an example, let’s take a look at bed bug removal. If your bed bug problem is less severe, then normal pesticides will be used, which usually gives you a starting rate of £165.

However, for a larger bed bug infestation, heat treatment may be in order. Heat treatments, while worthwhile, are quite pricey, setting you back £525 if you need it.

How are different pests treated?

Speaking of the type of treatment, it is worth exploring further the specifics of the most commonly used treatments for the different pests, so you know how the service works and why sometimes different methods might be employed.

Rodents

Regardless of whether you have a rat or mice infestation, the pest control methods are fairly the same. The exterminator will most likely begin with an inspection to determine the type of rodent, as well as to locate the entry/exit points used by the animal.

Then the holes will be sealed. Finally, baits will be placed at strategic places to remove any remaining intruders. In addition to baits, other commonly used methods for rodent control are traps, gels, etc.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs can be hard to spot, which can help them multiply undetected for quite some time. The most telling signs of an infestation include bites, tiny blood spots and even a musty smell. Although they are known to hide in mattresses, they can invade other areas of your home, such as drawer joints, picture frames and even books.

Therefore, the earlier the infestation is caught and treated, the better. As mentioned earlier, mild bed bug infestation can be eliminated with just insecticides. The pest controllers will spray all infected surfaces and they may have to do it more than once. There is also steam treatment, which is suitable for light infestations and does not involve chemicals.

Heat treatment, on the other hand, is a much more intensive procedure, where the temperature of the room is artificially increased to kill the invaders. This type of pest control method is also used to treat woodworm infestations, as it can successfully eliminate wood-boring beetles in different stages of their life cycle.

Ants

Although not as annoying as bed bugs, ants can be quite hard to remove once they find what they need in a property. And the main thing they are looking for is a convenient source of food. Unlike rodents, ants’ nests are normally located outdoors, which can make pest control a bit more complicated.

However, baits are a tried and tested pest control method for crawling ants. Once the baits are distributed around the house, the insects can find and carry them to the nest for the entire colony to feed on them.

As for flying ants, pest control methods such as fogging can be implemented.

Cockroaches

Just like ants, cockroaches are attracted to a place because of easy access to food and water. Unlike, ants, however, cockroaches are more dependent on water, instead of food. That is why areas of the house where humidity runs high, such as bathrooms and kitchens, are preferred by this pest.

Despite some differences, cockroach pest control methods are very similar to those used for ants. Poison baits are probably the most common method, especially for smaller infestations. More severe ones can be treated with fumigation or spraying with insecticides.

Fleas

Fleas can be easily introduced to your house through your pet. However, once inside, they will certainly not stay just on your pet. In fact, fleas can hide in various areas of the house including carpets, furniture, and floors.

They reproduce very fast and can travel great distances throughout the property thanks to their excellent jumping skills. The main pest control method for fleas is spraying with insecticides. Since fleas can be easily re-introduced, more than one spraying session may be needed.

Wasps

As we already mentioned, most of the wasps’ activity is centred around their hive. So, removing the hive seems like the best solution. Well, that’s easier said than done… Wasps are very protective of their hive and threatening it poses a serious danger to a person’s health.

Therefore, we strongly suggest you do not experiment and leave this task to experienced pest controllers. The most commonly used method is injecting insecticides into the nest, so it can be safely removed later.

What to consider before booking a professional pest control service?

Now that we’ve gone over the bulk of what is included in the price, there are a few more things that you should keep in mind.

Inspection costs

An inspection booking must be carried out before you book for an actual service. The experts will need to know exactly what they’re dealing with and where the invaders are based on the property. 

Keep in mind that the inspection isn’t covered in the cost of pest control and requires a separate booking. That being said, they are typically done within 1-2 hours and are relatively cheap, so it won’t increase the overall price drastically. Inspections can cost as little as £15 and are the important first step to getting rid of all the critters.

Type of guarantee

Most of the time, pest control companies will offer some form of guarantee. These usually range between 1-3 months, but some companies offer extended guarantees. 

Pest controllers will also visit the property after a treatment has been applied. This is to make sure that all critters are gone for good and the work has been done properly. These extra visits are included in the service price, so thankfully, you won’t need to worry about paying for an extra callout if things go wrong.

For more expensive treatments and coverages (£200 and above), you can arrange further follow-up visits. Again, this is just to ensure that you are protected from pests and to fix any problems you may have. 

DIY vs professional pest control

You are probably wondering whether home pest control remedies can actually reduce the cost of a service. Now, while DIY pest control can sometimes work for small infestations, it rarely gets rid of the entire problem. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try and deal with the issue yourself! It can save you money in the long run if you do need to get professionals in.

The smaller and more contained the infestation, the easier it is to remove. So hopefully, you’ll reduce the need for repeat appointments. DIY pest control methods are usually cheap and easy to implement, and there are plenty of guides available online! We also offer advice on pest-related issues like:

Looking to hire a pest control specialist?

Then look no further! At Fantastic Services, we work with professional pest controllers to rid your house of any creepy crawlies and elusive rodents. The specialists are fully trained and well-equipped to make sure that they can get rid of the pests for you, safely. We offer the highest-grade equipment and always apply the latest and most efficient proofing methods.