Bed bug infestation has become an annoying problem from many an American household.
There are generally two categories of people out there: those who seem to be comfortable with this pestilence and those who try to do something about it.
Even though I write this to help the people who already have felt the presence of bedbugs in their house and have hired a bed bug exterminator, this information can be helpful even to those who have not faced the problem or have faced it but haven't decided yet what to do.
Just like in any job, there are qualified bed bug exterminators and charlatans who will not help you but will con you out of money and time.
There are several things that you need to ask before you buy services like that.
Some of the questions are: Do I really have bed bugs? What can I do about it? And where can I find the right services to stop the infestation? If the answer is positive to the first question, many people still waste precious time thinking that they can completely get rid of the blood-sucking parasites on their own.
That's very unlikely, to say the least.
But let's picture that you have indeed hired someone to help you with the invasion and want to know that they are doing what they promised to do: exterminate the bugs and clean the house of their nests and excrement.
I will give you a list of early warning sings that the person you hired is not doing a good job at all and that you should find somebody else if you don't want to be "snacked on" every night.

1. If you hired someone who lacks specific bed bug extermination skills but is a general insect exterminator, watch out! Many of the methods, techniques and insecticides that work on other insects will not work on bed bugs.
   I would not recommend experimenting and spraying your house with all kinds of chemicals when only one or two can do the job.
   Let these guys do their homework first and then come and offer their services.
   Quite often it becomes only more difficult to get rid of bugs after such a "professional".
   
2. If you hired someone and they are not licensed, it is as important a sign as their lack of qualifications and experience in treating bed bugs.
   You should be concerned with your health and safety and that's the idea of a certification or licensing.
   No one will guarantee that what such exterminators do with your place is safe for the people who live in the house.
   They even may deal with the bugs but do damage to you health at the same time.
   Demand a license and it will guarantee that they have at least minimal skills at extermination and stick to certain safety measures.
   
3. If you hired someone who doesn't have a detailed plan of treatment, you can just add to your problems.
   You can't do too much on your own but, as the owner of the place, you will have to be included in this plan.
   A proficient exterminator will be using a variety of methods and planning to be effective.
   If the one you have hired does not do that but just goes from one place to another in your apartment and randomly sprays the chemical substances, the chances are that you have either an inexperienced or a careless worker.
   
4. If they offer really low prices but do not explain why their services cost twice as low as services of others.
   You should also be careful with those who promise to eliminate bugs almost for free and completely in short time.
   Exterminating bed bugs is not such a simple job and will require efforts and expenses.
   

In case these warning sings are familiar to you and you believe that they are a good description of the exterminator that's currently ruining your house and life, reconsider your choice and find somebody else.