Bed Bugs procedure after Tenant moves out.

[Jonathan Johnson]

Hello BP, 

I got bedbugs in the upstairs unit of a 4-unit apartment. An inherited tenant just moved out and left some couches, a dresser, and a lot of little nick-nacks everywhere in the one-bedroom apartment. She then said she's not touching the stuff and that I can keep the deposit. So at least there's that.

I got a quote from the local exterminator at $350 for the one apartment with 3 follow-up visits for $140 ($490 total).

Question:  How do I get the furniture out? They are couches and a dresser so I can't do it myself. I was planning on buying full body paint suits and gloves. And maybe hiring a friend to help? I don't know who else I could hire to get it done.

[Roy N.]

Johanthan:

That's a pretty good quote on exterminating bedbugs.  Does the exterminator guarantee his work for 6-months?

You need to get the furniture out and dispose of it.  The exterminator may do that for you or provide you with bags so you can encase the furniture before carrying it out (to reduce the risk of spreading the bugs).

You also want to have the remainder of the building searched for bedbugs (and maybe traps set) to be certain they have not spread to other units.