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Start with licensing
Licensing is the first thing to confirm, and it matters more for some jobs than others. General pest work should be carried out by a technician who holds the appropriate pest management licence for Queensland. For anything involving termites or timber, the bar is higher: termite and timber pest work in Queensland requires QBCC licensing, and installing a termite management system is regulated work, not a general spray.
Ask the company directly whether they are licensed for the specific job you need. A business that does general pest control is not automatically qualified to inspect for termites or install a barrier. Bruin is a QBCC licensed, family-owned Brisbane business accredited for termite management systems, which is the standard to look for when timber pests are involved.
Insurance and accreditation
Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on your property during a treatment. A reputable company carries public liability cover and will not hesitate to confirm it when you ask. If a company is vague about insurance, treat that as a warning sign rather than a formality.
Accreditation is the other piece. For termite work in particular, ask whether the company is accredited to install and service the specific management systems they recommend. Manufacturers accredit installers for a reason, and an accredited installer is more likely to fit and document a system correctly. Together, the right licence, insurance and accreditation tell you the business is set up to stand behind its work rather than disappear after the job.
Insist on a written quote and report
A vague verbal price over the phone is not enough to compare companies or hold anyone accountable. Ask for a written quote that sets out the scope, the pests covered, and any service or warranty period. As a rough guide, general pest treatments start from $180 for a standard home, but the real figure depends on the property, so a proper quote should be tied to your specific job.
For inspections, the same applies to the findings. A written report tells you what was checked, what was found, and what is recommended, in a form you can keep. This matters most with termites, where a documented inspection gives you a clear record of the property's condition. If a company will not put its findings in writing, you have nothing to rely on later.
Products, reviews and local knowledge
You have every right to know what is being applied around your home. A professional will tell you which products they use and why, and what precautions apply for children and pets. Products used in Australia should be registered with the APVMA for the intended use, and a good technician can explain this without hesitation. Be wary of anyone cagey about the chemicals they apply.
Reviews help when you read them properly. Detail that names the technician, describes the actual problem, and notes follow-up service is more telling than a wall of star ratings. Bruin is a family-owned Brisbane business rated well on Google, and that steady local feedback is what you want to see. Local knowledge counts too, since a Brisbane operator understands the pests and construction types common to homes across the north side.
Honest advice and the questions to ask
The clearest sign of a trustworthy company is one that tells you when you do not need a treatment. Good technicians will happily say a problem is minor, that monitoring is enough for now, or that a service is not warranted yet. A company that finds an urgent, expensive problem on every visit is one to be cautious about.
Before you book, a few questions sort the good from the rest. Are you licensed for this specific job, and can I see it? Do you carry public liability insurance? Will I get a written quote and, for an inspection, a written report? What products will you use and are they registered for this purpose? What happens if the pests come back within the service period? Honest, specific answers tell you far more than the lowest price ever will.