BED BUGS!! Looking to buy a vacant duplex that the previous tenant claims has bed bugs, but how do I know for sure?

Question

BP,

I looked at a great duplex in Columbus, OH today that is currently vacant...the last tenant had to be evicted and when he moved out, he trashed the place and wrote the words "Bed Bugs" on every single wall in the whole place.  It's obvious he was angry and thought the place had bed bugs that the out-of-state owner wouldn't acknowledge.  I am interested in possibly buying this duplex, but how do I know for sure if it is infested with bed bugs or not?  Is there a test to find out? Really don't want to buy it and then run into that expense and issue right away if there's a way I can find out before I decide to buy it.  Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

Chris Martin · Answer

I agree with Tiger on the assessment part. My recommendation is to get a professional pest control company to do an assessment. If there is/was an infestation, they can verify in minutes... most likely, a matter of seconds. The last assessment I was on with a technician, a positive ID took him about 20 seconds. This was a small, isolated case not a large infestation. Also, the cost of an assessment should be minimal. The output of an assessment is 'yes' or 'no' to treatment. If 'yes', then the company should also provide a scope of treatment and protocol sheet for the owner and/or occupant.

You have multiple things going for you: 1) place is empty, so treatment is ideal, 2) you don't own it yet, so your up-front cost of detection is minimal, 3) it's not move in ready so the BB issue is not a gating item, 4) your treatment will be effective since you (not a tenant) control all the variables.

Regarding canine services, I'd not employ this detection method for a duplex for one primary reason: expense. The dogs here (and elsewhere) are $175+/hr. and the meter starts/stops when the handler starts/ends deployment. Travel time could easily be significantly larger than time used for detection. I'd find a competent technician first.

One other thing about insects - if you don't effectively treat the life cycle, you can't eradicate the problem. I'm not a fan of repellent products, so can't recommend them for this issue. They don't work on breaking the life cycle. Heat might work, but this is a significantly more costly solution.

I agree with "It isn't as big of a deal as folks make it sound when treated properly." Many companies, unfortunately, fall short on life-cycle treatment protocol.

Corey Liepelt · Answer

Reach out to Lee Johnson, the Bed Bug Inspector. He has a bed bug sniffing dog. http://bedbug-inspector.com

Roy N. · Answer

Perhaps eventually, but bedbugs can go dormant for a prolonged period of time (months) when a food source is not available.

Steve Babiak · Answer

See if there is a local service with dogs that can sniff them out, and then let those dogs sniff away.

Pam R. · Answer

Dustin - Try a search here on BP for Columbus bed bugs and you'll find an affordable referral for treatment. There was a columbus bedbug discussion very recently. I would not consider bed bugs a deal breaker - just a negotiation point.

I agree with the advice of @Tiger M. and @Chris Martin.

@Donald - waiting for them to die is not a good strategy.

Dustin Faeth · Answer

thank you all for your suggestions, this definitely gets me going in the right direction! I appreciate the support.

Donald Hendricks · Answer

if they have nothing to eat, people, they die.

Tiger M. · Answer

Tasty subject Dustin. Any experienced pest co. can verify the presence of them if you can't. They are part of life for us in Vegas too. We have our own maintenance guys deal with it though. Two proven ways to get rid of them are heat and/or Cedarcide. If the property is vacant, propane heaters are used to get the inside up to 185 degrees, kills bugs dead. Heck in the Vegas summers, we turn off the air conditioner and open the windows and the heat it that way (kidding). Cedarcide is an oil you can buy online, just spray applied. The Cosmopolitan Hotel was "infested" and they used both of these solutions. It isn't as big of a deal as folks make it sound when treated properly. Cedarcide is used here even for scorpions, great stuff and I have no interest in the Cedarcide company, yet.

BED BUGS!! Looking to buy a vacant duplex that the previous tenant claims has bed bugs, but how do I know for sure?

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