An inspection tells you two things before any money goes to treatment: whether the pest really is bed bugs, and how many rooms it has reached. For Pleasant Hill rentals it also creates the written findings that California landlords are required to pass on to tenants.
Signs It Is Time to Book
- Fresh bites appear morning after morning.
- Tiny dark stains show up on the sheet or mattress piping.
- You found a small flat bug or an empty shell by the bed.
- A roommate, student or guest recently moved into the house.
- A used bed, couch or dresser came home in the last few weeks.
Places the Technician Checks
Most of the search stays within a few feet of where people sleep and sit: mattress seams and tags, the box spring, bed frame joints, the headboard, nightstands, couch and recliner cushions, baseboards, switch plates and curtain hems. Shared rooms in rental houses get checked bed by bed.
How the Visit Goes
- A few questionsWhen bites started, who sleeps in which room, and any recent moves, trips or furniture.
- Bedroom firstSleeping areas are checked, then living rooms and spare rooms.
- Proof shownBugs, eggs, skins or stains are shown to you and often photographed.
- ReportA written list of affected rooms and the treatment choices.
Pleasant Hill Landlords and Tenants
Under AB 551, a landlord has 2 business days to share a licensed operator's findings with affected tenants. Close to 4 in 10 homes in 94523 are rented, from downtown apartments to single rooms let to college students, so many inspections here involve both an owner and a renter.
Getting Ready
- Leave the bed unmade and unwashed so the evidence stays in place.
- Hold off on any spray before the visit.
- Clear boxes and piles away from beds and couches.
Questions About Inspections
Can other pests cause the same bites?
Yes. Fleas, mites, mosquitoes and some skin conditions look much the same, which is why the technician looks for the insects and their stains rather than judging by the bites.
Nothing was found but the bites continue. What next?
Consider a detection dog or a second visit roughly 2 weeks later. A colony that has just arrived can be too small to see.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves Pleasant Hill. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.