Have you ever had bed bugs in your rental property? If not, the likelihood of encountering them in the future is high. Apartments and condominiums are among the most common locations for bed bug infestations. Understanding how to prevent and control these pests can save you time, money, and your reputation. Here are some pointers.
Create a strategy for taking action to be proactive. Although you have little influence over how cautious your renters are when they travel or buy used furniture, by establishing a plan of action, you may lessen the chance that the pests will multiply and move to neighboring units. This strategy should cover the following:
ACT IMMEDIATELY
- How to communicate with or respond to the renter.
- How to get in touch with a trained pest management expert.
- How to get the tenant ready for treatment.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Educating yourself and your employees can help you deal with a bed bug infestation quickly. This includes the ability to identify bugs and signs of infestations. A musty odor, bites, bloodstains, fecal marks, eggs, shell casings, and live bed bugs are all signs that bed bugs are present. Because these pests are frequently misidentified as fleas and ticks, knowing how they look will help you provide the correct identification to your pest professional for treatment.
THE DONT’S
- Avoid using “at home” methods. Bed bug “bomb” canisters, for example, can exacerbate the problem by causing them to flee and infest other rooms.
- Do not make tenants remove items from their apartments. The items should be pest-free after being treated by a pest professional. If any items are heavily infested the technician will advise how to securely wrap and expose of any furnishings after treatment.
- Don’t forget to inspect neighboring apartments to ensure that all infested units have been treated.
- Do not relocate tenants to address the issue.Do not confuse “clean” with “bed bug-free.” Their presence does not reflect the cleanliness of a space. Tenants should not be kept in the dark about the problem. Maintain open lines of communication to resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.
TENANTS RESPONSIBILITY
- Report bed bugs and signs of bed bugs in 24 to 48 hours after finding.
- Cooperate with management to control bed bugs.
- Follow guidelines for cleaning and preparing for treatments.
- Encourage other residents to cooperate in preventing and controlling bed bugs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The best way to deal with this potential problem is to work with a professional pest control company that has experience treating bed bugs. At ECO, we provide specialized bed bug services that help prevent infestations. This can speed up the treatment and management of bed bugs by professionals.
