Frequently asked questions
The things people ring up and ask before they book. If yours isn't here, call James on 0406 015 607 — day or night.
Who you're dealing with
Are you the same company as the Ultra Pest in Sydney?
No. We’re an independent, family-owned business based on the Central Coast. James is the owner and only technician, and we don’t service Sydney or anywhere outside the Coast.
Where are you based, and how far do you travel?
We’re based in East Gosford and work across the Central Coast only — Gosford, Terrigal, Erina, Woy Woy, The Entrance, Wyong, Umina Beach, Kincumber, Avoca Beach, Tuggerah and the suburbs around them. If you’re outside the Coast we’re not the right people for the job, and we’d rather say so than take the booking.
Who actually turns up — is it always James?
James, every time. He does every job himself. No contractors, no call centre, and not a different bloke each visit. He’ll tell you what he’s found, treat the whole property, and follow up afterwards to check it worked.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — licensed and fully insured, and family owned out of East Gosford. If you want the details before you book, ask when you call and James will give them to you.
The job itself
What's included in a treatment — are there add-ons?
Every pest is included in the one price. A general treatment covers cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, ants, rodents and the rest in the same visit. You are not quoted for one pest and then charged again for the next one.
It also covers the whole property rather than the easy parts: the roof void, the subfloor, the fences and the outbuildings. Most pests come in through those, not the front door. There’s a full breakdown on the home page, point by point, of what a thorough job includes and where a cheaper quote usually stops.
How long will you be at my place?
Two to two and a half hours on an average size property. That is what it takes to get into the roof, under the floor and right around the outside.
A quote that has someone in and out in under 45 minutes is a different job, not a cheaper version of the same one. A larger block, a two storey house or acreage takes longer again — call and we’ll tell you where yours lands before quoting.
Can you come out today, or after hours?
We’re on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If it’s urgent — termites you’ve just found, a wasp nest, rats in the roof — call the mobile on 0406 015 607 and you’ll speak to James rather than an answering service.
After hours treatments are available for businesses that can’t shut during the day.
Safety and getting ready
Is the spray safe for children and pets, and do we need to leave the house?
The chemicals we use are low toxic, and chosen to be pet and family friendly.
It’s still recommended that you leave the property while spraying if that suits you, and to keep windows and doors closed once we’ve started. If you have pets, put their food and water bowls away before we arrive. Tell James on the day if there is anywhere you would rather was not sprayed.
Do I have to empty the kitchen cupboards?
No. The chemicals used for cockroaches are safe in food preparation areas, so there is no need to empty cupboards or clear out the kitchen before a treatment.
What do I need to do before you arrive, and afterwards?
Before: leave the driveway clear so the vehicle can park, unlock anything that is locked, clear the roof void access for a ladder and make sure the subfloor entry is not blocked. Take the washing off the line, cover anything outside you don’t want sprayed, and move light things — clothes, toys, bean bags — away from the skirting boards inside.
Afterwards: leave the cobwebs alone for five to ten days before you knock them down, and wash the windows after the treatment rather than before.
The full preparation checklist is on the services page.
Termites and inspections
What is the termite detection dog for, and do I need one?
Robuck is a cocker spaniel and the only termite detection dog on the Central Coast. Termites give off a scent that carries through the walls they are feeding behind, and he can pick that up where an inspection can only see what is on the surface.
He earns his keep if the house is on a concrete slab, if the subfloor is too low to crawl through, or if you are on acreage or a heavily treed block. If none of that applies, a standard inspection may be all you need, and James will say so.
What happens in a termite inspection?
It is a visual inspection backed by equipment: a moisture meter, a thermal camera, a Termatrac sensor and a camera probe. James goes into the roof void and under the floor so both are inspected properly, rather than looked at from the access hatch.
You get an extensive written report emailed to you with photos, explanations and the options for treating and preventing termites. A pre-purchase report goes further again, covering structural issues, water leaks, drainage and ventilation, and all timber pests rather than termites alone.
If you think you may already have them, the signs of termites in a Central Coast house is worth a read before you touch anything.
Still not sure what you need?
Describe what you're seeing and James will tell you straight — day or night.