What happened
The owner of a short-term rental in Virginia Beach had already had two spray treatments from a national pest control company, and she had a written document saying the property was "cleared." Even so, the week before our treatment, two of her guests left in the middle of the night after seeing bed bugs.
For a rental owner that's the worst outcome: guests leaving in the night, refunds, bad reviews and blocked dates on the calendar.
Our treatment
We completed a whole-house heat treatment on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
As the temperature rose, we saw live bed bugs coming out of their hiding spots. That told us the property still had an active infestation, even though she had paperwork that said it was "cleared." Heat kills every life stage, eggs included, so those bugs and eggs died during the treatment instead of being left for the next guest to find.
The result
The owner is back on the market. Her first guest arrives Wednesday, October 21, 2026, four days after the treatment. The treatment is covered by our 6-month warranty.
Why heat is usually the best choice for rentals with guest turnover
Chemical treatments take time to work. A bug has to come out and contact the treated surface, and that can take days or weeks. In a home where the same family sleeps every night, that delay is manageable. In a short-term rental, every new guest may be the person who sees the bugs that haven't died yet. A paper that says "cleared" doesn't stop a guest from seeing a live bug that night.
Heat works differently. When the home reaches killing temperature and holds it, the bugs and eggs in the treated area die during that visit. Heat kills every life stage, eggs included. The space usually reaches temperature in about 15 minutes to 2 hours, and then we hold it for about 3 to 5 hours. With guests checking in and out, that's usually the safest way to protect your next booking. If you rely on a slow-acting treatment, you risk guests still seeing activity.
Tips for short-term rental hosts
- Check the mattress seams, the headboard and the luggage rack at every turnover.
- Give guests a luggage rack so bags stay off the beds and floor.
- Don't let "cleared" paperwork replace your own inspections. Keep watching the property after any treatment.
- If a guest reports bugs, block the calendar and call a professional before the next check-in.