Rentokil Urges Victoria’s First Home Buyers To Protect Their Investment Against Structural Timber Damage, With One In Four Victorian Properties Now At Risk Of Termite Attack

22 June, 2009

Rentokil, the global pest control company with “suburb by suburb” expertise today urged Victorian first home buyers to protect their valuable asset against termite damage.

Rentokil’s Senior Field Biologist Peter Lamond said termites were the number one pest people should be alarmed about, with one in four properties at risk over their lifetime.

“Australian Standards recommend annual termite inspections to protect property against damage,” said Lamond.

“Termite infestation is a disease of the home that is largely preventative.”

“We highly recommend that home buyers, especially first home buyers, ensure they have full termite and pest protection treatment to safeguard their biggest investment. “

He stressed that a pre-construction termite preventative treatment was highly desirable and indeed would assist with future resale appeal, especially in new housing estates.

Rentokil has highly trained staff who personally assess pest infestations and advise on safe and effective forms of treatment.

Rentokil specializes in domestic and commercial pest control and recently acquired leading residential pest control firm Dawson’s to enhance its extensive “suburb by suburb” local reach and knowledge.

Lamond said that pest control should be viewed as an ongoing maintenance item – just like health check ups – where it is better to be preventative than wait until there is an infestation which is when it gets expensive.

The new Rentokil Year Round Protection Plan offers residential protection from thirty-five of the most common pests including ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders, silverfish, stored product insects and more.

The year round plan includes regularly scheduled preventive services and inspections with written reports, a fully qualified and licensed pest control technician assigned to your home, recommendations for preventing future problems, and an annual termite inspection.

Owners can add the Termite Home Protection Plan which is a structural home timber replacement warranty for up to $500,000, offering current and future homeowners complete peace of mind against possible termite attack [conditions apply].

The following suburbs and their immediately surrounding areas have a risk factor of approximately 20%.  That is, one in five houses currently have a termite infestation problem or there is evidence of a pest problem in the past, according to the Archicentre http://www.archicentre.com.au/

•    Wantirna

•    Newport

•    Monbulk

•    Armadale

•    Frankston

•    Greensborough

An analysis of termite damage in Sydney and Melbourne

http://www.archicentre.com.au/TermiteDamage.pdf

Rentokil uses the latest technology, audited products and techniques, and highly trained technicians to ensure safe pest control treatments.