Before any money goes to treatment, an inspection answers 2 questions: are these truly bed bugs, and which rooms do they occupy? The second answer keeps a Clayton job from growing larger or pricier than necessary.
When to Book an Inspection
- New bites keep appearing morning after morning.
- Dark or rusty dots show up on pillowcases or the mattress edge.
- Relatives just left after a long stay in the guest room.
- You spotted a small flat bug or a pale skin near the bed.
- A thrift store dresser or used sofa came home recently.
What Gets Checked
The technician focuses on places where people rest: mattress seams and tags, the underside of the box spring, bed frame corners, headboards, side tables, recliners, couch frames, baseboards, outlet covers and drapery folds. A guest suite or ADU belongs in the same visit.
How the Visit Goes
- A few questionsWhere everyone sleeps, when bites started and any recent travel, visitors or furniture.
- Bedrooms firstSleeping rooms are checked before dens and living rooms.
- Evidence shownAny bugs, eggs, skins or spots are pointed out and often photographed.
- The planYou learn which rooms are affected and which treatments fit.
Renters and Senior Apartments in Clayton
Only about 1 in 9 homes in ZIP 94517 is rented, but that group includes condos, rented houses and the senior apartments near downtown. Under AB 551, once a licensed operator inspects, the landlord must share the results with affected tenants within 2 business days, and a written report keeps everyone working from the same facts.
Before the Technician Arrives
- Leave the bed made so any spots stay where the technician can see them.
- Skip sprays and foggers in the days before the visit.
- Move laundry baskets and storage boxes away from beds and couches.
Questions About Inspections
Are these bites really from bed bugs?
Not always. Fleas, mosquitoes and even dry skin can leave similar marks, and some people never react to bed bug bites. Only bugs, eggs, shed skins or fecal spots confirm it.
Nothing was found, but the bites keep coming. What next?
Book a K9 search or a second look in 2 weeks or so. An early problem may be only a few bugs tucked inside a headboard or under a loose strip of trim.
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 Clayton. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.