6 tips for better bed bug management

June 14, 2017

Bed bugs are a major problem across the country. Pest management professionals (PMPs) who have successfully battled the pests share a few of their tips below. For more bed bug management tips, check out Pest Management Professional’s June 2017 Bed Bug Supplement.

1 Staff appropriately. “Bed bug treatments, when performed correctly, are very physical and time-consuming. Having a two-man team working to lift beds, turn over furniture, pull back carpet, etc., helps take some stress off of the technician’s body physically and ensures a more thorough treatment is completed. Having multiple technicians working what can be a tedious job can help both with morale by creating teamwork, and productivity by allowing the job to be completed faster with less tendency to take any short cuts. — Bill Ritchhart, president, Advance Pest Control, Leavenworth, Kan.

2 Know when to walk away. “As an owner of a small business, I am always eager for additional revenue. Lawsuits pertaining to bed bug treatments are commonplace, so it is important to understand when you should walk away from a job. It is my policy not to chemically treat any property that has been treated within the past two months. Non-chemical remedies such as caulking, vacuuming, steam, installing pit-fall traps and client education can be used in the interim. Although most of us follow the law, swab tests may reveal surprises used by unscrupulous applicators, and it may be impossible to prove you were not the PMP who made the misapplication.” — Scott Armbrust, urban entomologist, Rid-A-Pest Exterminators, Littleton, Colo.

3 Listen to the customer. It is important to actually listen to the customer in all situations, but even more so with bed bugs. Prep, clutter, mobility or lack thereof often are an issue and will play a huge part in eradication. Also, listening can get the potential client to give up some information that may tell you to walk away. — Joseph Sheehan, president, Colony Pest Management, Brooklyn, N.Y.

4 Use your tools. “During an inspection, the two tools I most often use are a flashlight and a mirror. The flashlight obviously helps me illuminate areas where bed bugs could be resting, whereas the mirror allows me to look behind, under and around furniture or other obstructions I may not be able to fully inspect. The mirror is great when inspecting large dressers or heavy bed frames; it allows me to look at every nook and cranny while illuminating the area with my flashlight.” — Jim Contreras, president, Professional Pest Control, Ravensdale, Wash.

5 Be honest with customers. “It is so important to gain the customer’s trust when dealing with bed bugs. This is best accomplished by being upfront and honest with the customer, and delivering with exactness whatever you propose as a solution. This way, the customer knows what to expect from the beginning and is satisfied with the outcome. Hopefully, if they have been duly educated, they will know better how to avoid getting bed bugs again in the future. — Jacob Haslem, owner/operator, ActivePro Pest Control, Hurricane, Utah

6 Don’t discount your service. Aside from charitable work, we do not do anything for free. Our contract states this and outlines our warranty and our mandatory follow-ups, which are all included in the original price. Discounting service is something we have all done and probably still do here and there. However, bed bugs are so difficult to control and the NYC the market is so competitive that discounting it does not make sense; we could end up losing money. Know your worth and never waiver. Ten accounts at $100 are better than 50 accounts at $20. — Joseph Sheehan, president, Colony Pest Management Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.