History guides the search
Useful questions cover travel, second-hand furniture, guest stays, room changes, previous treatment and where occupants sleep. The answers guide inspection; they do not prove blame.
Report actual observations separately from assumptions.
The physical inspection
Beds, headboards, mattress seams, nearby furniture, skirtings and objects close to the host are common starting points. The search boundary expands when evidence supports it.
- Live or dead specimens
- Cast skins and eggs
- Faecal spotting near harbourages
- Blood marks considered with other signs
A useful report
The report should state what was inspected, positive and negative findings, the proposed room scope and any access limitations.
If treatment is recommended without confirmed evidence, ask what alternative explanations were considered.
Sources and further checks
Open the source before acting on information that may change, including council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels.