Termites cost Australian homeowners more in repair bills each year than storms, floods, and fire combined — and unlike those events, termite damage rarely shows up until it’s already serious. A skirting board that sounds hollow, a door that suddenly sticks, a patch of ceiling that looks slightly discoloured — by the time these signs are visible, a colony has often been active for months, sometimes years.
That’s the entire reason Bugs Or Us Pest Control exists in its current form: to catch what a casual look would miss. For more than 20 years, we’ve provided termite control in Figtree for homeowners, landlords, real estate agents, and business owners who want a straight answer about what’s happening inside their walls — not a guess.
This page walks through exactly what we do, how we do it, and why the tools and process behind a Bugs Or Us inspection are different from a standard pest call-out.
Bugs Or Us Pest Control is a locally operated termite and pest control business that has spent over two decades working across Figtree and the wider Illawarra region. We’re fully licensed and insured, and every technician on our team is trained specifically in termite detection technology — not just general pest spraying.
What sets our approach apart is that we don’t rely on a single inspection method. Most of the damage termites cause happens in places you simply can’t see with the naked eye — inside wall cavities, under slabs, within roof timbers. So rather than a torch-and-screwdriver inspection, we combine:
Used together, this combination gives an inspection that’s measurably more likely to catch active termites than a standard visual check alone.
An inspection is only as reliable as the person conducting it and the tools they’re using. A visual-only inspection can miss activity that’s sitting a few centimetres behind a plasterboard wall, simply because there’s nothing to see from the outside.
Australian Standards recommend a termite inspection at intervals of no more than 12 months. Some properties need shorter intervals — older timber homes, properties in higher-risk areas, or those that have recently undergone treatment — because termites can enter a property between scheduled inspections and remain undetected until the next one rolls around. The shorter that gap, generally, the smaller the eventual repair bill.
Our termite inspection Figtree service uses the Termatrac T3i, thermal imaging, and our detection dog on every job, which meaningfully increases the odds of finding activity a standard inspection would miss. If your property already has a termite management system installed, note that these systems are designed to make termite entry visible early, not to physically block it — regular inspection is still the piece that actually catches activity in time to act on it.
Once activity is confirmed, timing becomes the most important factor. Termite colonies don’t pause while you’re deciding on a provider, and every week of delay generally means more structural timber compromised.
Our termite treatment Figtree service starts with precisely locating the colony — not simply treating the area where damage happens to be visible, which is a common shortcut that leaves the actual nest untouched. From there, treatment is matched to the situation:
We’ll walk you through which approach fits your specific infestation and property type, rather than defaulting to whichever treatment is quickest for us to apply.
General pest inspections follow the same underlying logic as termite inspections: catching a problem early is dramatically cheaper than fixing the damage it causes later.
We offer two levels of service:
Pre-purchase timber pest inspections fall under this second category and are one of the most common reasons people search for pest inspection Figtree services ahead of a property settlement — a hidden infestation found before you sign is a negotiating point; the same infestation found after settlement is entirely your bill.
A few warning signs worth acting on quickly rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection:
None of these confirm termites on their own, but any of them are a good reason to book an inspection sooner rather than waiting out the standard 12-month interval.
Dealing with something not listed here? We treat most common Australian pest issues on request — ask when you call.
Your home is probably the single largest financial asset you’ll ever own, and standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover termite damage — which makes prevention far cheaper than repair.
Our residential termite control Figtree service is built around ongoing protection, not a one-off spray. Depending on your property and its history, this can include:
We also cover general household pests — ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents, and more — during the same visit, so homeowners aren’t coordinating multiple contractors for one property.
Commercial properties carry a different kind of risk. A pest issue in a retail space, food premises, warehouse, or managed strata building isn’t just a repair cost — it can mean failed compliance checks, unhappy tenants, or a site shut down mid-trade.
Our commercial pest and termite control Figtree clients include property managers, strata committees, real estate agencies, retail tenancies, offices, and warehouse operators. Commercial service typically covers:
If you’re a property manager juggling several addresses, we can build a single inspection calendar across your whole portfolio rather than handling each site as a separate, disconnected job.
Two decades in one region teaches you things a national franchise operation doesn’t pick up. We know which Figtree-area properties tend to be higher risk based on construction era and site conditions, which times of year local termite swarming activity typically increases, and which treatment approaches hold up best against the specific termite species active in this part of the Illawarra.
Combine that local knowledge with detection technology most competitors don’t carry, and you get an inspection that’s genuinely more likely to find a problem — and a treatment plan that’s built around your specific property rather than a generic checklist.
Every job follows the same structured approach, regardless of whether it’s a home, a shop, or a warehouse:
we ask about the property's history, any previous treatments, and specific concerns before we arrive.
Internal, external, subfloor, and roof void where accessible, using detection technology rather than a visual-only walkthrough.
A clear written report outlining findings, risk areas, and recommendations, explained in terms you can actually use.
Options presented with the reasoning behind each, including cost and expected outcome, so you're choosing with full information.
Carried out by licensed technicians using products sourced from leading manufacturers.
Ongoing monitoring stations or scheduled re-inspections, depending on the treatment type and property risk.
Our advanced termite inspection and treatment services are designed to give you the knowledge and peace of mind needed to protect your real estate investment. Serving Lake Macquarie and surrounding areas with pride, we offer:
Deep familiarity with how termites and pests behave specifically in this region's climate and housing styles
Termatrac T3i, thermal imaging, and a detection dog working together — up to 3x more likely to detect active termites than a visual-only inspection
Every job meets industry and government safety standards, with insurance covering staff and equipment
One trusted provider for your home, your rental property, or your business premises
Effective treatment without automatically defaulting to the harshest available chemical
Reports written so you can actually understand and act on them — useful for records, audits, or property transactions
Familiarity with lease conditions, pre-purchase timing, and multi-property scheduling
You're shown the reasoning behind each option, not pushed toward the most profitable one
Termites and pests don’t wait for a convenient time to cause damage — the earlier a problem is found, the smaller and cheaper it is to fix.
Call Bugs Or Us Pest Control on 0490 454 644 to book your termite or pest inspection in Figtree today.
Australian Standards recommend intervals of no more than 12 months. Higher-risk properties, older timber homes, or those recently treated often benefit from shorter intervals.
The combination of Termatrac T3i, thermal imaging, and a trained detection dog — together, they make an inspection significantly more likely to detect active termites than a visual-only check.
Once activity is confirmed, we prioritise locating the actual colony and starting treatment promptly, since delay generally means more structural damage and a bigger repair bill.
Yes — spiders, cockroaches, ants, rodents, fleas, bird lice, wasps, borers, and silverfish, alongside our termite work.
Yes, fully licensed and insured, and our equipment carries insurance cover as well.
Yes, alongside standard chemical, baiting, and monitoring options — we’ll recommend whichever fits your property and preferences.
Yes — pre-purchase timber pest inspections, end-of-lease treatments, and ongoing service for real estate agencies and strata complexes are all part of what we do.
A management system is designed to make termite entry visible earlier; it isn’t a guaranteed physical barrier on its own. Regular inspection is what actually catches activity in time to treat it.
Call 0490 454 644 — we’ve served local homes and businesses for over 20 years and can usually schedule an inspection quickly.