The time a professional bug sweep takes depends primarily on the size of the property and the scope of the sweep. This article gives you a realistic picture of the timescales for different types of sweep, so you can plan accordingly when you instruct us.
Residential Property Sweeps
A typical single residential property — a house or flat of average size — takes between two and four hours for a comprehensive sweep. This covers all rooms including loft and cellar spaces where accessible, outbuildings, and the examination of fixtures, fittings, and objects throughout the property.
The sweep takes this long because thoroughness is not negotiable. A sweep that covers the obvious places and leaves the less obvious ones unexamined is not a sweep; it is a partial inspection. Every room, every fixture, every object that could plausibly conceal a device is checked. That takes time, and the time is well spent.
Larger properties — larger houses, properties with extensive grounds or outbuildings — take proportionally longer. For very large residential properties, we may plan the sweep across two sessions or a full day.
Vehicle Sweeps
A vehicle sweep typically takes one to two hours. This covers the exterior of the vehicle, including the underside, wheel arches, bumpers, and any accessible cavities; the interior, including seating, dashboard, and boot; and the OBD port and accessible electrical systems. RF detection and physical inspection are both applied.
Where multiple vehicles need sweeping — both family cars following a relationship breakdown, for example — we plan this as a single visit where possible to maintain operational security.
Device Assessments
A smartphone or tablet assessment typically takes thirty to sixty minutes per device. A laptop or desktop assessment takes one to two hours. Where multiple devices are being assessed as part of a comprehensive sweep, we coordinate the timing with the property sweep to minimise disruption.
Combined Sweeps
Where a residential sweep includes both a property and a vehicle, with device assessment, allow a full day. We plan the sequence to cover the property first, then the vehicle, then devices, ensuring that each element receives the appropriate time and attention. A rushed sweep is not a professional sweep.
What Affects the Duration
The factors that most affect sweep duration are the size and complexity of the property, the number of items to be physically inspected, any specific technical complexity — unusual building materials, extensive electrical installations, large numbers of network-connected devices — and the number of vehicles and personal devices included in the scope.
We give you a realistic time estimate when you instruct us, based on the information you provide about the property and scope. We do not cut corners to meet a time target, and if we are finding something that requires more detailed investigation, we take the time it needs.
Want to know how long a sweep of your property would take? Contact ARF Private Investigators for a no-obligation consultation.