Pest Control in Cape Town

Clear access to skirting boards, under sinks and behind appliances; store open food and utensils away; note where and when you've seen pests (photos help); secure pets and cover fish tanks. For bed bug jobs, follow the company's prep sheet exactly — bagging laundry and decluttering — or the treatment can fail.

Termites have straight antennae, a thick uniform waist, and two pairs of wings of equal length; ants have elbowed antennae, pinched waists and unequal wings. Mud tubes on foundations, hollow-sounding timber and piles of shed wings near windows point to termites — get a professional inspection quickly, since termite damage compounds.

DIY sprays and baits handle light ant or roach activity fine. Hire a professional for anything structural or persistent: termites, bed bugs, rodents inside walls, wasp nests in cavities, or repeat infestations. Pros have access to products and application methods retail products don't match, and misapplied DIY sprays can scatter colonies and make infestations harder to treat.

Most reputable firms include a retreatment guarantee — commonly 30-90 days for one-off jobs, and continuous coverage on service plans. Get the guarantee in writing, including what voids it (e.g. not following prep instructions, sanitation issues). 'Lifetime' guarantees usually mean an ongoing paid contract, not a one-time promise.

In coastal regions (especially the Western Cape and KZN), banks commonly require a wood-destroying-insect clearance certificate before approving a home loan transfer. Inspection plus certificate typically costs R500-R1,500, with treatment extra if borer or termites are found.

A general treatment for cockroaches and ants in a standard house runs about R600-R1,800, typically around R1,000. Rodent programs cost R600-R2,000 depending on visits, and full termite soil treatments range R2,500-R9,000 by house perimeter.