How to price a bed bug job

Dr. Janis Reed, BCE, Technical Services Manager, Control Solutions Inc.

Be sure you are charging enough for the work you are performing, especially for bed bug work. Your professional training, knowledge, skills and experience should demand top dollar. Here are some things to consider the next time you price a bed bug job:

• The overall size of the area that needs to be treated.
• The level of infestation.
• The number of items in the area to be treated (furniture, clutter, etc.).
• As most bed bug infestations are not severe, they require more time be spent on the investigation stage; this takes time, and you should be compensated for the time you invest in each account.
• Specialized equipment, such as steamers, dusters and foamers, may need to be purchased.
• Integrated pest management (IPM) tools such as mattress encasements, bed bug traps and monitoring devices, as well as specialized insecticides, may need to be purchased.