STR Bedbug prevention

[Mogen Keene]

Would love the advise of other STR owners on bedbug prevention. We have a STR in the Smokies and I don't know if I want to just risk dealing with it if the problem arises. I have read about the huge hassle they are to get rid of, plus the loss of rent and potential bad reviews.

I have received very affordable quotes for spraying monthly and more costly quotes for quarterly heat treatments, with different opinions on what is best. Curious to know what others in the area are doing. Thanks in advance!

[Luke Carl]

You can not prevent bedbugs. You can do your best... but there's no guarantee. They will happen at some point. And it's a crappy day. But it's not the end of the world. 

On this day you will learn your "Bedbug System" and if and when it ever happens again... you're prepared. 

1. Bedbug encasement on all mattresses and box springs. 

2. Monthly treatment from licensed exterminator. 

That's about all you can do. 

When the bedbugs come... send over exterminator to confirm or disprove their existence. If they are confirmed.... get out the heaters. Heat the house for 24 hours and all bugs, not just bedbugs, will be dead. Someone would have to bring the bedbugs BACK into the house for them to come back. This heating process around $1000 depending the size of the property. 

You can also hire a company with bedbug sniffing dogs to come into the house and prove their existence. I find this unnecessary. Just ask your exterminator to look around. If you have them.... He will know. 

The guest that discovered the bedbugs will need to be moved (by airbnb) to another property. Cancel the next guest to give yourself time. ***NEVER cancel a guest from your end -it will kill you. In this case have Airbnb cancel and move the next guest. 

You will get a bad review from the guest that discovered them and there's nothing you can do about it. 

Provide Airbnb with receipts from licensed exterminator that the service has been performed and you're back in business in 48-72 hours. 

NOTE: you may or may not choose to buy new mattresses and or furniture. The bugs are dead as could be. If the mattresses aren't that old it may not be worth replacing them. 

Good Luck on your journey.