There are a lot of pests in this world that does nothing but to annoy people around them. Some of these pests can be found in your home. There are rats, cockroaches, termites, flies, mosquitos, and much more. But there is one pest that many homeowners despise, and that is the BED BUG. They are flat with oval shape insects that look like a tick or a small cockroach. This type of pest is commonly found in your bed lying with you while you are having your good night beauty sleep.
They are tiny insects who love to suck the blood of their victim because bed bugs feed on blood only. Unlike any other insects, they can invade your house without you noticing it. And once they begin to multiply, the invasion of your house will go rapidly. Usually, you will not notice if you have a bed bug infestation. If you already feel their presence, then it only means that they have already spread in your home.
Because of their size, bed bugs are hardly noticed. One way to check if you ever feel that you have a bed bug infestation at your home is to see if you have rashes or skin irritation in the morning after you sleep. Bed bugs feed at night during your sleep. One way is to also check your bed if there are tiny black spots of dried up blood. A website called WebMD has a list of the signs of a bed bug infestation. If these signs are present, then the best thing to do is to call an exterminator. Now, you might ask yourself, how much does bed bug extermination costs?
Average Bed Bug Extermination Cost
Bed bug infestation is hard to control. You can’t just easily do simple magic tricks to eradicate one. If you want to completely remove these annoying bed bugs at your home then hiring an exterminator is the best solution. Make sure to hire a professional one that has a license. Also, make sure that the company of the exterminator whom he is working has been dealing with bed bug infestation for a long period.
Also make sure the pest control company does not rely merely on pesticides and insecticides. Integrated pest management is what they should use. Integrated Pest Management or IPM practices the combination of chemical, preventive, and sanitation measures. It is to make sure that the procedure won’t do harm in the environment and have a better efficiency.
Listed below are just the average bed bug removal costs.
- The first thing in a bed bug extermination procedure is an inspection. This is to make sure whether your house is infested with bed bugs. It also lets you know the degree of the infestation. Some companies offer free inspection at the area, while some may charge you around $50 up to $200 or more. This depends on the rates of your location and the size of your house.
- Some inspections might not detect minor infestations especially if it hasn’t completely spread yet. There are other companies that offer an examination using a specifically trained dog to sniff out bed bugs, and according to them, it has a 90% up to 96% accuracy. Normally, if the infected area is small, like houses or rooms, they will charge you around $300 up to $600. On the other hand, large buildings like apartments, buildings, and motels, will cost you around $900 up to $1,500.
- If bed bug infestation is confirmed to be positive after the inspection, then the extermination procedure happens next. A bed bug treatment cost depends on the size of the infestation. A pest control company may charge you around $250 up to $900 per room that they treated. A local rate has an average of around $400 up to $600.
- Before and after the treatment, the home owner will be required to clean and wash the infested fabric items and vacuum the infested area.
- Normally, bed bugs infestation may need two to three treatments to completely make sure that your home is free from those annoying bed bugs.
- You should also prepare around $200 up to $2,000 since some companies will charge this to do the widespread preparation required before the actual treatment.
Extra Costs on bed bug extermination
- There is not much extra costs in bed bug exterminations. However, take note that some companies will charge you the overall cost of the operation before the extermination happens. You also need to make sure you have extra money for the follow-up treatments that are needed to completely eradicate the bed bugs in your home.
Factors that affect the cost of bed bug extermination
- The size of the infected area is a big factor in the bed bug treatment cost. It is because the bigger the area, the more materials for the treatment is needed. So if you have a big home, you might expect to pay a higher price.
- Another factor on the list is the level of infestation. If your home has been infested by bed bugs for a long period of time, then the infestation might have already spread all over your house. This only means that the bed bug removal cost might go double. You might have to let your house be treated several times. Bed bugs multiply so fast, which is why it is very wise to call an exterminator as soon as possible.
- Lastly, the type of treatment used is also a big factor on how much does a bed bug extermination cost. There are a lot of products and treatments that can be used. The more effective it is in removing the pests, the higher it will surely cost you.
Saving money on bed bug extermination
People on a tight budget will find ways on how to save money. Listed below are just a few tips on how to reduce the costs of the extermination process.
- If you trust yourself, then you might want to consider doing your bed bug extermination by yourself. There are a lot of websites on the internet that can help you out. They offer instructions that will surely help you do the extermination on your own.
- Bed bug sprays are available on the market for less than $10. You could buy one if you feel that infestation is starting in your room. Just make sure that you buy a bed bug spray that is not toxic and only contains small harmful chemicals, EcoRaider, a brand of a bed bug spray is known for its effectiveness, and it is not toxic. However, this might not have 100% effectiveness since present bed bugs are becoming resistant to common chemical sprays.
- Prevention is better that cure. One thing to save money on bed bug extermination is to prevent having bed bug infestations. Always wash your bedsheet, mattresses, draperies, and other linen materials where bed bugs could live. It is also good to have your home inspected of any bed bug infestation for at least once every two months.
- To prevent further increase of the cost of the extermination, call for an inspection as soon as you feel that there is an infestation in your home. It is better that your home is treated before the bed bugs multiplies.