Considering the True Cost of a Bed Bug Infestation
Sometimes learning the total cost of eradicating bed bugs can be far more frightening than seeing an actual bed bug itself. Most always, the cost is substantially more than simply going to a department store to pick up a can of bed bug spray.
Both direct costs and indirect costs need to be considered. The direct cost of killing bed bugs includes the expenses directly related to the physical process and treatment of exterminating and eradicating bed bugs from an area. The indirect cost of a bed bug infestation is the additional expenses that are incurred which are not directly related to the bed bug treatment process.
Potential Residential Costs
Regardless of whether a homeowner hires a professional pest control technician or if they attempt a do-it-yourself approach, there will most always be more costs than that of the initial bed bug treatment. In addition to the bed bug treatment service fees, there may be furniture or clothing replacement costs. As a general rule, most furniture should never need to be destroyed if treated correctly. However, stained and perinatally marked items may need to be discarded. Personal property that can be determined to be permanently damaged includes clothing, furniture, luggage, backpacks, sheets, pillows, and mattresses that have been infested with bed bugs. Additional indirect costs inflicted upon residential customers include time off work, emotional distress, and the psychological effects of dealing with bed bugs. Often there are also intangible costs such as the humility & embarrassment that are brought into life by the bed bugs.
Potential Hospitality Costs
The hospitality industry may be adversely affected more than any other industry by the indirect costs of a bed bug infestation. The customary expected fees incurred in calculating a bed bug occurrence usually include the inspection, the treatment, a re-treatment, mattress encasements, chemicals, and other equipment like bed bug monitors, etc. Related costs that are nearly always incurred are rooms that become unavailable due to bed bugs, remediation & repair, as well as comped rooms & amenities. However, the indirect cost of having a bed bug incident is possibly more expensive than the bed bug treatment itself. Hoteliers face the indirect expense of litigation costs, lost revenue, and poor on-line reviews from such notable sites like: Google, Trip Advisor, Expedia, Yelp, and so many more. So, what does a single negative review cost? That is hard to exactly determine; however, it has been reported that one negative review can cost up to 30% of potential customers. Not only does this include losing the initial stay to a new guest, it will also cost the revenue that the new guest would have generated over a host of travel stays.
Potential Apartment Complex Costs
A landlord is required by law to maintain their rental units in accordance with local and state health and safety regulations. This involves appropriately guarding the rental unit against insect infestations, including bedbugs. Unfortunately, bedbug infestations happen even in properly maintained apartments. Bed bugs can be transported on people’s clothes, bed bugs can be brought into a room on luggage or in the seam of a hand bag. As in other industries, the indirect cost of incurring bed bugs may outweigh the treatment costs.
With a simple Google search, you can easily read about a $3.5 million dollar verdict against an apartment complex in California. The bed bug treatment expenses and the medical costs (less than $2500) to treat the bed bug bites for all of the tenants were relatively minimal compared to the total indirect damages. After being shown pictures of bed bug bites, the jury in this particular case deliberated for five days before arriving at the verdict. It was the jury’s opinion to award such a large sum due to emotional distress. The plaintiff’s attorney stated that “…it was mostly won over the sleeplessness, the anxiety and the humiliation they endured …” It was reported that the 16 tenants were each awarded between $44,000 and $580,000. This is an example of how the indirect cost of bed bugs can be astronomical.
What is the cost of a bed bug incident?
So, when considering the true cost of a Bed Bug Infestation. The bottom line is that the true cost of dealing with bed bugs is more costly than initially expected if the correct equipment is not used and if the bed bug treatment is not done timely and correctly. If not addressed, not only are there the economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage to be considered; there are also non-economic damages to be considered such as pain & suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
How can Bed Bug Heat Doctor PrevSol Help?
The trained and experienced staff at Bed Bug Heat Doctor PrevSol can advise you and help you select the correct bed bug equipment solutions which would be best for your particular situation. Bed Bug Heat Doctor PrevSol carries only the best quality electric bed bug heaters and propane bed bug heaters that are designed and manufactured in the USA. Whether it is the first sign of a bed bug or a full-blown bed bug infestation, we are here to help with your selection of the correct bed bug heater for your space. We hope this has given you some insight when considering the true cost of a bed bug infestation.
