Bed Bugs in REO Purchase?

[Matt Schelberg]

I closed on a foreclosed rowhouse this week and during the clean-out yesterday, I found cans of aerosol bedbug-killer laying on the ground.  No "smoking gun" that there are bed bugs -- but the spray cans are a pretty strong indicator.  Should I bite the bullet and pay for an exterminator before starting the rehab?  

Additional background:  People were living in the house as recently as 1 month ago.  All carpet and furniture will be removed during the rehab.  I will keep the house as a rental property.

Should I have the property treated before the rehab?  Or will the full rehab kill anything that's there?

[Russell Brazil]

@Matt Schelberg I would get a bed bug specific pest control company out to do an inspection. I purchased an REO in Rockville a few years ago that had bed bugs, but we didnt know till it was too late. You can go with the chemical treatment which is cheaper to get rid of them but you have a greater chance of recurrence. I ended up going with the heat treatment to get rid of them which ran a few thousand dollars.