Most business owners don't understand bed bug infestations as well as they should. There is much confusion regarding where bed bugs come from, the problems they present, and what is needed to prevent bed bugs from causing problems. Join us as we tackle the complicated topic of commercial bed bug control in Western Massachusetts. Our goal is to answer the questions presented above and discuss why DIY bed bug control isn't a good investment for your business. Do you have an urgent bed bug problem and need immediate assistance? Jump to our contact page for commercial bed bug pest control in Western Massachusetts. Otherwise, read on to learn about commercial bed bug control.

Three Ways Bed Bugs Spread To Your Business

Let's start by tackling the most common misconception about bed bugs. Bed bugs don't live on your property, explore the perimeter around your business, and come in from the outside. Where do bed bugs come from? These are hitchhiking bugs. There are three ways they'll get into your business, and none of them have anything to do with your lawn or landscaping.

Customers: You risk getting a bed bug infestation every time a customer enters your business. Bed bugs move from one location to another passively. If a customer has a bed bug infestation at home, these bugs can be in their clothing, bags, luggage, pocketbooks, briefcases, gym bags, shoes, jackets, and other items. Bed bugs spread passively. They get into these items or lay their eggs in them. One batch of eggs can lead to a large infestation appearing in your business overnight. Why do customers bring bed bugs into your business? Do they not care? No. They probably don't know that they have bed bugs at home. Bed bugs are sneaky insects. Keep this in mind as you deal with a bed bug problem. 

Employees: Your employees can bring bed bugs to work. They can also acquire bed bugs at work and bring them home. After an infestation has matured at home, they can carry the bugs back to work, complicating the matter of bed bug control. If you hope to protect your business from the problems bed bugs create, you need to educate your employees regarding what bed bugs look like, where bed bugs hide, and how to detect evidence of an infestation. The more your employees know about bed bugs, the better off everyone will be.    

You: Yes, even you can bring bed bugs to work—assuming you manage your business. When bed bugs get into your home, you may not know it at first. These bugs, and the problems they cause, can go under the radar, and like your customers and employees, you may not know how to identify bed bugs or the warning signs they leave behind. You may also acquire a bed bug infestation when you acquire furniture items for your business. A used couch, chair, or bed can have bed bugs or bed bug eggs inside. While you may be saving money by getting second-hand furniture, getting a second-hand bed bug infestation can be costly.   

At the heart of bed bug control is education. It is essential to educate yourself regarding these bugs and to share this knowledge with your employees and customers. Early detection can help prevent bed bug infestation and the cycle of infestation.  

Problems Bed Bugs Cause For The Average Small Business Owner

There are challenges to running a small business, and bed bugs feed into these challenges. As a small business owner, you can't afford many mistakes. If you don't appropriately deal with bed bugs, the consequences could create systematic problems that may threaten your business.       

Bad Reviews: The first, and most obvious problem, small business owners must deal with is that bed bugs damage reputations. You know this. There is a stigma associated with bed bugs. Though it is patently false, many Western Massachusetts residents believe that bed bugs infest dirty or not well-maintained businesses. When customers find bed bugs, it is likely to lead to a bad review. In the age of smartphones, bad reviews can lower your ranking and influence potential customers to choose one of your competitors, significantly impacting your bottom line. Bad press is the last thing you need if you're struggling to make ends meet. You can avoid bad press by having a plan to deal with bed bugs expeditiously and to address bad reviews by reassuring your customers that you go to great lengths to get control of these pests. 

Customer Retention: If your business offers apartments or rental units, you know how difficult it is to find great tenants, but great tenants have higher standards. When tenants get bed bugs, they may not know how they got them, and misunderstandings are common. You can prevent misunderstandings by letting your tenants know how bed bugs spread, how they may have gotten them, and that you have a plan to deal with bed bug infestations. 

Litigation: Some customers may decide to bring a lawsuit against you. Fortunately, this is rare. But, as a small business owner, you may not be equipped to handle this threat easily. It is far better to avoid taking this path at all. Professional bed bug control gets you out in front of potential legal problems.        

Employee Impact: Bed bugs can create a hostile work environment for employees, leading to lower morale and decreased productivity. When you don't take appropriate steps to address bed bugs, some employees may decide to look for a new place of employment. Your employees will be grateful to learn that you have a plan and know what to do about bed bug problems. Then it will be business as usual.   

It is important to understand that the cure can be worse than the disease. As a small business owner, you might know that bed bugs can impact your business, but you may be inclined to try to handle the problem yourself, even though you don't know how to treat bed bugs or how to get rid of bed bugs. Let's look at how DIY bed bug control can work against you. 

DIY Bed Bug Control Drawbacks In Commercial Spaces

You may not think about bed bugs until they become a problem. When you realize you need to do something about these bugs, you may do something yourself or have one of your staff do something. There are drawbacks to doing this yourself or having an untrained individual handle your bed bug control. 

• You may purchase bed bug control products, space heaters, steam cleaners, mattress encasements, and other items, only to contact local pest control for bed bugs, later, which will add to your costs.
• As you work to control bed bugs on your own, you can allow these bugs to continue to harm your business and impact your bottom line.
• Bed bug control can be intrusive for your customers when not performed conscientiously. 
• Some products, such as space heaters used to control bed bugs, can severely threaten your property and put human life at risk.

Professionals do more than apply pest control products to address bed bugs. When you have a professional handle bed bug inspections, management, and control, you get proactive protection from bed bug problems, which also helps manage the fear of customers and employees. Let's take a look at how this works.     

Why You Should Always Order Professional Bed Bug Control

Are bed bug bites dangerous? No. But there is a great deal of fear associated with these pests. The most important aspect of an effective bed bug control plan is addressing this fear. At American Pest Solutions, we do this in several ways.

• You can assure your customers and employees that experts handle your bed bug infestations. There is no guesswork.
• We use K-9 inspectors. People love dogs. Dog inspections are far less intimidating than human inspections—not to mention much faster and more adept at locating infestations.
• We perform targeted treatments to handle bed bug infestations quickly and discreetly. There is no sense in calling attention to your bed bug problem.
• We provide essential information to help you educate your employees and customers about bed bugs to alleviate fear even further.

Along with addressing fear, there are practical reasons to contact American Pest Solutions for bed bug control in Western Massachusetts.

• Our K-9 inspectors are highly accurate and can move through commercial spaces quickly, with little or no disruption.
• Our technicians use a multi-pronged treatment strategy that ensures no bed bugs escape treatment.
• Our technicians have the training, experience, and professionalism to get the results you want.

Don't wait until bed bugs present a problem for your small business. Contact American Pest Solutions today to create a bed bug action plan so that when bed bugs appear, you're ready for them. We look forward to helping you find the right solution for your specific needs and budget. Connect with us today.