All Forum Posts by: Kevin Farrell

The law will vary from state to state. You can do "your" own pest control at your home. You can not do pest control for someone else and charge them for the service. You doing pest control for a friend and not charging for the service is a bit of a murky area. 

The fact is that a lot of property owners have their maintenance guys spray for bugs in rental properties. I see it all the time and I can not recall ever hearing about anyone getting into legal trouble. But, if someone was poisoned due to chemicals, you would probably be held accountable as the owner.

That is why most states require training and liability insurance to obtain a Pest control applicators license.

Think about this: If you need to treat a unit and it will require the tenant to be out of the apartment for a couple of hours, you may want to hire a licensed pest control company for the job. I frequently advise maintenance guys on my multi unit accounts on how to take care of minor roach and mice problems. They call me in when they need me for something more involved.

Did you check with an attorney to see if the BB clause was legal in Chicago? More cities are banning that clause so you should check on that before going further.

Get more quotes. That is a D class property. In my experience there will always be BB in some units. Here in Indy, I would do all units for $300 each. Then I strongly recommend quarterly inspection with perimeter spray. BB have always been a lower income problem. We experience about 5% new BB cases each month in D class buildings with regular inspections being performed. IMO - putting the responsibility on these tenants to take care of this problem is not realistic. 

Like I said, get more quotes. Good luck.

Diatomaceous Earth used to be effective for BB. Current research by Dr. Potter at the University of Kentucky and others has shown a mortality rate of less than 50% when used on BB infestations. Not nearly good enough to eliminate an established infestation of BB. Eliminating BB is hard work, takes special knowledge and experience. I suggest that you hire professional help for BB. Like most things in real estate investing, get a Pest company on your team before you need him. 

The tenants may have been exposed to BB after moving in. When tenants move into a house that has BB in it, they will be complaining loudly with in the first few weeks. If it is now 8 months after move in - then they brought them in somehow. Get a good professional pest control company to do an inspection and give opinion and estimate how long the problem has been in the home. I can't really tell you how to pick a good company, but there are a lot of shady ones out there including the big guys. Not everyone knows BB and not everyone wants to work with them.

Heat is the most expensive way to treat but not the best. Get some quotes and only deal with a company that will guarantee the work. Many don't guarantee results with BB. As an investor you should take the time to get a good pest guy on your team.

There is a lot of misinformation about BB out there. Tenants use that information to try to make this your problem. Yes, BB can live 12 to 14 months without feeding, but will not do so when there are people in the home. They don't "hibernate" or become "dormant". They eat our blood and make more BB and live in their own waste.

@ Deborah Palmer - lots of good advice here. Get a professional to inspect. In many cases they can help determine whether the tenant brought them in or not. After 6 months, I strongly suspect that the tenant brought BB in on some furniture or clothing, or their friends brought them in. A new tenant in a rental with BB will complain within the first month AND there will be little evidence of BB on their furniture. On the other hand, a tenant that moves in with BB will have a build up of BB, shed skins, and fecal material on their beds and couches - strong evidence that they brought them in.

I don't think it was mentioned yet - you should treat both sides. You may have a problem on your side but don't know it yet.

Good Luck with bugs and tenant.

Not a member. They just meet there. Check them out at www.cireia.org. 

@Patrick Cruse - I highly recommend attending one of the REIA meetings. There is a group that meets on the north side nearer to you that you should check out. I go the CIREIA meetings on the first Thursday each month at Broadmoor Country Club. At one of these meetings you will meet all of the important people that you have listed and more. You will also be able to talk to people who are doing what you want to do. They will give you an accurate picture of the market here.

Welcome and good luck.

Bed Bugs can survive without a host for 14 to 16 months depending upon what study you look at. A complaint from several years ago has most likely been addressed. At the very least, get a professional inspection for BB before going forward. If there is evidence of BB get the seller to fix it.

Good luck with the house.