I have hired exterminators to help fight my bedbug problems and I'm someone who usually prefers to solve everything on their own.  Bed Bug Exterminators can cost a lot to hire but it is something that ultimately must be done. They have the equipment, the industrial strength bedbug pesticide and the expertise. They usually will have to come more than once to do a follow up and you have to arrange your furniture and house for them. All your clothes have to be put into bags and all the clutter in your closets and drawers have to be removed. To put it bluntly, they want the rooms to be as empty as possible so they can inspect and spray their pesticide.  The good bedbug exterminators will look for droppings to see where bedbugs might be hiding and steam your bed mattresses. When they spray the room with pesticide, have them spray the floors as well. Bedbugs might be hiding under the floorboards.

 

Things I learned from using bedbug exterminators


Try and schedule an appointment before noon


I found exterminators have more energy and focus during the morning to inspect bedbugs and pay greater attention to places they are spraying.  I had exterminators come over during the morning and also during the afternoon for a follow-up.  There was a stark difference in the level of service just by what time of the day it was.

 

Anything that you put in or on your body should be taken out of the room before they spray.  This includes toothbrushes, medicine, Q-tips, cups, brushes, etc.  


There's a good chance the exterminators will be using a respirator when spraying strong insecticide and have you stay out of the house for 3-4 hours.  If this poison require such precaution, then it is wise to put your toiletries and personal items away or at the very least cover them.

 

If you have a cluttered house, it will take you at least one full day to rearrange your rooms for the exterminators to examine and spray.  


My family thought we could just re-arrange our furniture and belongings overnight but we needed more time than we thought.  The exterminators came and was able to steam our mattresses but they couldn't spray the insecticide because of the clutter.  This amounts to wasted time for them and grief for both parties.  So when the exterminators gives you instructions to clear out the rooms before they come on a certain date, make sure you give yourself plenty of time.