Domestic FAQ

Most homes are resolved across two to three visits over a couple of weeks: inspection and trapping first, proofing as activity drops, then a check-back to clear traps and confirm it has stopped. Heavier or shared-wall properties can take longer.

We lead with mechanical traps in homes. Trapping removes the animal where we can find it instead of leaving it to die inside a wall or ceiling cavity, and it keeps rodenticide out of living areas. Where an external situation genuinely calls for secured bait stations, we discuss it with you first.

Trap placement is chosen around pets and children — inside lockable stations, in roof voids, subfloors and cavities, and behind fixed joinery rather than in open living areas. Tell us about pets when you book so we plan for them.

Yes. Ratman carries out physical proofing and sealing — weep holes, pipe and cable penetrations, vents, eave and tile gaps, door gaps and subfloor access. We don't just hand over a list of holes to fix. Where something needs a licensed trade or major roof work, we say so.

Same-day attendance is available during operating hours, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, subject to availability. We do not offer 24/7 service and we won't claim otherwise.

Rats start around dusk and sound like fast running, scratching and occasional dragging. Possums are heavier, slower and thump. If it's rats, the roof void will show droppings and greasy rub marks along the runs. We confirm it on inspection rather than guess.

Yes, though in apartments and terraces the source is often outside your unit — a shared riser, a bin room, a common area or a neighbour. We'll tell you plainly when that's the case, because sealing your kitchen alone will only move the problem sideways. Strata may need to be involved.

It depends on the property, the species, how established the activity is and how much proofing is needed. We quote after the inspection, off what was actually found, rather than giving a number over the phone that changes on the day.

No one honestly can. Proofing closes the routes we find and reach on your property, and that is what keeps rats out for the long run — but new damage, renovations, construction next door and a neighbour's bins can all change the picture. We'll tell you what we sealed, what we couldn't, and what to watch.

Yes — restaurants, cafés, pubs, commercial kitchens and other food premises are handled on the commercial side of Ratman, with documented monitoring built for food safety audits.