So you’re excited about moving to a new place. If you’ve dealt with bed bugs in the past, you definitely don’t want to move any bed bugs or eggs into your new home and face a repeat of that scenario. How can you be sure the home you are moving to has no bed bugs? There are some precautions you can take to make sure your new home is free of these pests.
HOW TO PREVENT THEM
- If you ever had bed bugs in your current home, hire an exterminator to eliminate them. Follow the advice about cleaning and packing your clothes and other items for treatment. Wash or dry clean all cleanable items before packing.
- Find out if your new place has ever had a bed bug infestation. For an apartment, ask if any of the units in the building have had bed bugs in the last year. Do the same for a townhouse or single family home. Ask for a disclosure in writing.
- For apartments or rentals ask about the landlord’s policies regarding a bed bug infestation. Who is responsible for paying for treatment if bed bugs are found, landlord or resident?
- The best way to know if your space is free of bed bugs is by having a professional inspection done. This service is also a much cheaper decision in the long run rather than having to deal with problems in the future. If you do see bed bugs, discuss control measures with the landlord or previous homeowner and make sure the place is certified bed bug-free before you move in.
MAKING THE MOVE
- Use new boxes and packing materials whenever possible. If you must re-use boxes, check them for bed bugs first.
- If you have hired someone to move your belongings, remember that some moving companies take precautions against bed bugs while others don’t. Ask anyone that you hire for moving purposes what their bed bug policy is and if they can guarantee that the trucks they use are free of bed bugs. Do they check and clean vehicles between jobs? Do they use new boxes and clean blanket pads for each job? Be careful when you are using people who are not professional movers. Also, do the same when renting a moving truck. If you’re packing your own rental van, check it before you load up.
- If you are storing items before the actual move, ask the same kinds of questions of the storage facility. How often do they check for bed bugs? Check the storage unit before you fill it and check your items carefully when you remove them.
- If you’re getting rid of any bed bug-infested mattresses, furniture, or other items, follow proper procedures to make sure that you don’t pass the infestation on to someone else.
The importance of checking for bed bugs when you first move in cannot be overemphasized. A single female lays multiple eggs daily, which can quickly lead to a major infestation in a matter of months.
Bed bugs are tough to see; you are looking for an insect roughly the size of an apple seed. Contact us for your inspection needs. We offer visual and canine inspections for bed bug detection.
