This is the true story of a homeowner, whose anonymity we prefer to remain, who called us one fine Monday morning. He was calm, but his voice betrayed deep concern.
At first, nothing alarming.
A landlord, a dedicated but overwhelmed man who had been managing his building alone for several years, like many others. A 30-unit building , located on the outskirts of Montreal. Peaceful tenants, stable rents. No particular problems for years. He stopped by his block from time to time, answered calls when necessary. Basic maintenance was done. He didn't do pest control... but in his eyes, there was no reason to worry.
And then one day, a text from a tenant :
"I think I found a bedbug in my bed."
The inspection that changes everything
Don't panic, he made the right decision: call a professional exterminator for a complete inspection. He was expecting a minor problem, isolated to a single home.
But when the technician finished his inspection, the findings were brutal:
21 out of 30 dwellings showed clear signs of infestation, which represented 70% of the building.
Some tenants didn't even realize it. Others didn't dare talk about it, thinking it wasn't "that serious." But bedbugs don't wait.
They travel through cracks, electrical outlets, and shared walls. A building is an ecosystem. When a home is infested and nothing is detected in time, the problem becomes a collective one.
The price to pay : $12,075
Treating a serious bed bug infestation isn't just a quick cleanup. Each home must be treated thoroughly, often more than once. Most importantly , all affected homes, sometimes even neighboring homes , must be treated to prevent the bed bugs from escaping and reappearing elsewhere.
In his case:
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21 units x $575 per unit treated (on average) = $12,075
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Not to mention the stress, tenant complaints, temporary loss of rent, reputational damage and hours of coordination .
What simple prevention would have changed
This is where the shock was hard. Because in hindsight, he could have avoided all the stress of this situation with basic prevention .
Today he knows: with a simple prevention system, he could have spotted the infestation from the start . Perhaps even in the first home , at a stage that was still manageable.
For example, if he had installed in each apartment:
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BedMoat traps under the bed legs: This small device acts as a sentinel against bed bugs. They fall into it before making their way to the sleeper. Easy to inspect, inexpensive (about $25 per door ), and passive—it requires no chemicals.
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Discreet sticky traps for kitchens and bathrooms: to detect other crawling insects, such as cockroaches, before they become a problem. Again, very low price , easy to install.
What if he had asked his caretaker to take a look once a week , or simply asked his tenants to let him know if they saw anything in the traps ...
He would probably have become aware of the situation as soon as the first home was affected . And he could have had it treated immediately.
- Know that with a few tips from the pros, we know exactly what to watch out for!
Simple prevention. Huge results.
➤ In his case, prevention would have cost him about $900 for the 30 units.
➤ Instead, he had to pay more than $12,000 for a widespread infestation.
In other words, prevention would have cost him 10 times less than cure.
The lesson: “A preventative investment of $900 could have avoided a $12,000 bill.”
What this story teaches us
Prevention is often what we put off because it costs “a little” time, money or energy now.
But when you wait too long, that "a little" becomes "a lot ." A lot of stress. A lot of loss. A lot of regret.
Additionally, most people don't want to hear about bed bugs or even think about setting traps. That's normal: we don't want to imagine it could happen to us.
But it is precisely when everything seems calm that action must be taken.
And this principle goes beyond parasites:
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Air filter not changed on time? Hello mold.
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Neglected roof inspection? Hello water damage.
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Avoided an annual doctor's visit? We know the rest.
The solution to many problems is to prevent them. Small preventive measures can prevent large expenses.
Just like with parasites.
A rental property isn't just walls and rent. It's a living organism, with people, movement, and life. And when a parasite enters, it's your vigilance and that of your tenants that makes all the difference.
This owner is not the only one
We're not telling you this story to scare you. We're telling it because this kind of situation really happens . And because we'd much rather help you before you call us in an emergency.
With a few dozen dollars per unit , a small surveillance system, and some collaboration with your tenants or superintendent, you can avoid what this landlord experienced.
But this owner has since changed his way of managing . He installed detection devices in each apartment. He put his caretaker on a short weekly inspection schedule. And above all, he sleeps better at night.
Because today, if there's any sign, he'll know right away . And he'll be able to act before it gets out of control.
And you? Are you waiting for the first complaint... or are you ready before it arrives?