Before paying for treatment, find out two things: is it really bed bugs, and how far have they spread? A professional inspection answers both, and for Cardiff rentals it creates the written findings California law requires landlords to share.
When an Inspection Makes Sense
- Bites keep appearing after you sleep.
- Dark specks show up on sheets or along mattress seams.
- A flat brown bug or a few pale shells turned up near the bed.
- A guest in your rental reported bites.
- You returned from a camping trip or hotel stay and something followed you home.
Where the Technician Looks
The search stays close to where people rest: mattress seams and tags, box springs, bed frames, headboards, nightstands, couches, recliners, baseboards, outlet plates and curtain folds. In duplexes and small apartment buildings, the neighboring unit may be checked too.
The Inspection Visit
- QuestionsWhen bites started, where people sleep, recent trips, guests or furniture.
- Every roomSleeping areas first, then couches, chairs and any guest space.
- EvidenceLive bugs, eggs, skins or spots are shown to you, often in photos.
- FindingsA written summary of the rooms involved and the treatment options.
For Cardiff Landlords and Rental Hosts
Under AB 551, landlords must share a licensed operator's inspection findings with affected tenants within 2 business days. Beach rental hosts also use inspections between stays so a problem is caught before the next check-in.
Before the Visit
- Keep the bed untouched so the signs are still there.
- No spraying before the visit.
- Move clutter away from beds and couches.
Questions About Inspections
Could these bites be from the beach instead?
Possibly. Sand flea and mosquito bites can look similar, and bites alone never confirm bed bugs. The technician looks for the bugs and the signs they leave behind.
The inspection found nothing. Now what?
If bites continue, ask for a K9 inspection or a return visit. A very new infestation can be tiny and hard to spot.
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 Cardiff-by-the-Sea. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.