Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Cost

How Much Does Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Cost?

Extermination Kits: $50-$200

Dog Inspection: $300-$1,500+

Total Costs: $1,000-$10,000+

Bed bugs are flat, oval, non-flying insects that are sometimes mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown and up to 3/16" or 1/4" long -- about the size of an apple seed. They feed by sucking blood from humans or animals, usually at night, and typically live where people sleep -- in mattresses, bedding, headboards, bed frames and springs, or in couches and other furniture. Bed bugs do not carry diseases and are not a sign of poor hygiene; they live anywhere there's a source of blood and places to hide.

Typical costs:

The first step is an inspection to confirm that bed bugs are present and determine the extent of the problem. Some pest control companies do an on-site visual inspection for free; others charge $50-$200 or more, depending on local rates and the size of the residence.
Another inspection option is using a dog specially trained to detect bed bug infestations. Companies providing bed bug dogs claim a 90%-96% accuracy rate. A dog inspection in a typical home can cost $300-$600, according to AchooAllergy.com[1] . Dog inspections in apartment buildings, nursing homes, hotels or other large facilities can cost $900-$1,500 or more, depending on local rates and the size of the structure, according to Businessweek [2] .
Pest control companies may charge $250-$900 per room treated, with an average of $400-$600, depending on local rates, the level of infestation and the types of treatments used. The homeowner or tenant is usually required to do extensive work (cleaning, vacuuming, washing fabric items, etc.) before and after the treatment. Many infestations need two or three treatments; companies with lower prices may not include these follow-up visits in their quotes. Total costs for getting rid of bed bugs can range from $1,000-$10,000 or more. The New York Times[3] reports that the complete cost for inspections, extermination fees, cleaning and storage for a typical home can easily be $5,000 or more.
Do-it-yourself extermination kits that include insecticides as aerosols, dusts and/or liquids cost between $50 and $200. One of the disadvantages of using an aerosol "bomb" is that it typically doesn't kill all the bed bugs and any survivors scatter throughout the home, making future treatments more difficult. Most infestations require professional treatment, according to MedicineNet.com[4] .

Related articles: Termite Control, Mold Remediation, Asbestos Removal, House Cleaning

What should be included:

Bed bugs were nearly wiped out in most areas in the 1940s and 1950s with the use of DDT, a toxic pesticide that is now banned. Without DDT, bed bugs can be difficult to kill; modern extermination typically requires a multi-faceted approach using heat (steam and a washer/dryer) and/or freezing cold, plus a variety of insecticides.
Hotels, hostels and resorts are most at risk of a bed bug infestation. They can be a particular problem in apartment buildings, where they spread from unit to unit.
Although only about one-third of people visibly react to bed bug bites (others are bit but nothing shows on their skin), most people realize they have a bed bug infestation when they see bites on their skin, or dark-brown or reddish spots on linens, mattresses or walls near the bed. The Mayo Clinic describes typical bite symptoms[5] and other signs[6] of an infestation.
Typically the homeowner or tenant is asked to launder all clothing, bedding and draperies; put all possessions in drawers and closets inside resealable bags or containers; move large furniture away from the walls; vacuum and clean the rooms on treatment days; and vacate the premises on treatment days. The company should treat all baseboards, picture frames, bed frames, dressers, drawers and tables. Cornell University's Integrated Pest Management program describes the treatment process and answers FAQs about bed bugs[7] .

Additional costs:

For an extra fee, some companies will do the extensive preparation required before an extermination treatment. This can add $200-$2,000 or more to the total cost, depending on size and condition of the residence, and how much is done by the company.

Shopping for getting rid of bed bugs:

Get bids from at least three companies. Hands-on experience is important, because bed bugs don't behave like ants or cockroaches. Request (and contact) references from previous customers.
The company should provide a written extermination plan, outlining which treatments will be used, how many treatments will be provided and what residents need to do before and after each treatment. The New York Better Business Bureau provides tips for choosing a bed bug exterminator[8] .
Search for a local pest control company through the National Pest Management Association[9] .

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

heat treatment is the only way

Amount: $2,000.00 total

Posted by: Zoekayu in SLC, UT.	Posted: August 10th, 2018 12:08AM
Type of Inspection: rubber glove	Type of Treatment: heat
Company Hired: Thorne

If you u live in an apt, duplex, condo or any type of "shared" community and it get's infested with Bedbugs you will probably find it easiest to leave your material items behind and walk away with the clothes on your back strait to the flying J showers & the laundry mat. Never look back. Or if you have no choice and are serious you have to take full control and get cooperation and transparency from ALL your neighbors and nothing less. Good luck with that. Many people will ignore and/or lie about infestations because they don't want to have to clean or allow someone to do it fore them.
In many cases chemical treatments are ineffective because bedbugs are inside the walls and fixtures and even in your hardwood floor. Chemicals do not reach these places. The only way to treat any infestation that isn't extremely small is to have professionals do a heat treatment and it is not cheap. Thousands.

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