Choose pest control with a clear treatment plan
In short
Find a pest controller who covers your Melbourne suburb and will assess the problem before recommending treatment. Check the attending technician through the Victorian Department of Health, including whether their pesticide authorisation covers timber pests if termite treatment is proposed. Ask for a written quote that separates inspection, treatment and ongoing visits. Give the company access details for subfloors, roof spaces or shared areas, and obtain preparation and return instructions before the appointment.
Step 1
Describe the activity and ask for the right assessment
Tell the company what you have seen or heard, where it occurs and when it started. Photos of droppings, insects or damaged timber can help with the enquiry, but leave identification to the operator. Roof noises alone do not establish that you have rodents; the Victorian health guidance warns they could be possums.
Match your enquiry to the problem
| Signs or location | What to ask the company |
|---|---|
| Droppings, scratching or repeated insect activity | Can you identify the pest, inspect likely entry points and explain treatment and prevention options? |
| Damage to timber or suspected termites | Does the booking include a timber pest inspection and written findings? Is any treatment quoted separately? |
| Activity near shared bins, gardens or roof spaces | Which areas need assessment, and who must arrange permission and access through the owners corporation? |
Step 2
Check the technician's licence and pesticide authorisation
The Victorian Department of Health licenses the individuals who apply pesticides for pest control businesses. Ask for the attending person's name and licence details, search the department's current licence holder register and check their photo identification on arrival. If their authority cannot be established, ask the department before proceeding.
A general authorisation excluding timber pests does not cover pesticide treatment for termites. For that work, check for an authorisation including timber pests. Fumigation has its own authorisation. The register also distinguishes a qualified technician from a trainee under supervision; ask who will supervise if a trainee is attending.
Ask about relevant insurance and experience with your pest and building type. An inspection and a pesticide treatment are different services, so establish what the proposed appointment actually involves.
Step 3
Include the access details that affect the visit
For a Melbourne house on stumps, say where the underfloor access hatch is and mention damp areas or stored timber. For a terrace with a narrow side passage, explain how the operator can reach the rear yard. Apartment bookings may need lift access, visitor parking and an owners corporation contact for common areas. If you rent, confirm authority with your rental provider or property manager before booking work.
Example brief: Scratching above the kitchen at night in a weatherboard house in Preston. Droppings photographed beside the back door. Subfloor hatch is in the laundry; access beneath the rear extension is limited. One dog lives here. Please quote an assessment, explain how you will identify the animal and list treatment and follow-up charges separately.
Step 4
Compare the scope and future visits as well as the price
Request written quotes that name the target pest, areas covered, method, inspection or call-out charge, treatment price and GST where applicable. Check whether follow-up visits are included or charged separately. Consumer Affairs Victoria advises businesses to explain quote inclusions and how changes, delays and payment issues will be handled. Agree that extra work needs your approval.
For termites, ask why the operator recommends a particular method and what ongoing inspection, monitoring or servicing it needs. Victorian health guidance describes several approaches, including baits and barriers; a general insect spray should not be assumed to provide termite management. Read any warranty's duration, exclusions and maintenance conditions before accepting.
Ask which property changes would help reduce recurrence. For termite prevention, the department highlights dry, ventilated subfloors, fixing leaks and drainage, keeping susceptible timber away from soil and preserving inspection zones. Have the operator explain which measures apply to your home and whether another trade needs to do them.
Step 5
Get preparation instructions and keep the visit record
Ask for the proposed pesticide product names and written instructions for protecting food, managing pets and preparing the treatment areas. Tell the operator about aquariums, ponds, vegetable beds or a rainwater tank. Confirm when people and animals can return, what ventilation is needed and when cleaning can resume, using the instructions for the actual products and method.
For external treatment, ask how wind or rain will affect the booking and whether neighbours need warning. Victorian health guidance advises care around food, animals and water collection, and consideration of non-chemical controls. Avoid adding your own sprays or baits without discussing them with the operator.
Keep the findings, invoice, product details and follow-up dates. Ask what activity to expect after treatment, when to report continuing signs and how to arrange a return visit under the agreed terms.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- Victorian Department of Health: find a licensed pest control operator
Individual licence checks, the current licence holder register, supervision and pesticide authorisations including timber pests.
- Victorian Department of Health: pest control, termites
Termite control approaches and homeowner measures involving moisture, timber contact and inspection zones.
- Better Health Channel: pest control in the home
Pest identification, non-chemical controls and precautions for food, animals, weather and water collection.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: giving quotes, tradespeople and small works
Clear quote inclusions, documenting costs and conversations, and agreeing how changes and payment issues will be handled.
