Check for bed bugs in a new apartment

How to check for bed bugs in a new apartment? Moving into a new apartment can be a tedious task. But, getting to know that a new apartment harbors bed bugs can be very devastating. So, in this article, you will get to know how to check for bed bugs in a new apartment before you move in.

You must have gone through lots of stress to pack your luggage and move into a new apartment. It will be a terrible experience for you to have blood-sucking companions such as bed bugs in your new apartment.

Apart from bed bugs being “hitchhikers,” they are also great opportunists, taking advantage of every situation they come across. Bed bugs can be found in an apartment, be it in a luxurious or ghetto area. Regardless of how neat or dirty an apartment might be, bed bugs might be hovering around it.

In some states, a landlord must inform intending tenants of the bed bugs condition of an apartment. However, landlords are not bound to disclose if the apartment has bed bugs in other states such as Ohio. This is why checking for bed bugs on your own should be an essential step before moving in. So, here’s a quick and dirty guide to identify them and the actions you can take.

Indications of a new apartment with bed bugs

Though the feeling of moving into a new apartment can be so amazing, before you pay and sign the tenancy agreement, take a moment to do some findings and look out for some indications of bed bugs presence or infestation.

Discuss with your landlord about bed bugs

You can engage the landlord in a conversation about bed bugs concerning the new apartment. If the landlord is willing to sincerely discuss it with you and tell you how to prevent or eradicate the bed bugs, it is a positive indication. However, it would help if you didn’t take their word as gospel. Take the extra step to google reviews from previous tenants about the apartment. There’s a chance someone may have written about whether the apartment has bed bugs or not.

Go on an apartment tour before you rent

Insist on an apartment tour before paying or signing the documents. In the apartment tour, carry out a physical check for bed bugs. But, if the landlord or property manager pressures you to pay and sign without going for a physical check of the apartment, then it is a negative indication.

During the apartment tour, try not to be in a rush. Do a proper check-in in the bedrooms and living rooms. If there is furniture in the apartment, check the seams, cracks, and crevices of every piece of furniture. Also, check for bed bugs in the carpets, power outlets, torn wallpapers, cracks in the walls, and so on. It would be best if you took along with you on that tour a pair of gloves, magnifying glass, and a flashlight.

During your check, if you see reddish-brown or dark spots on mattresses or furniture, or tiny reddish-brown insects crawling around, or even little white eggs, then there might be a large bed bug population or infestation.

How to eliminate a new apartment of bed bugs

If you find signs of a bed bug infestation in the new apartment, then going for a different apartment is an excellent choice. This is also why your rental agreement should include a clause about the condo being free of bed bugs. Regardless, whether a new apartment contains bed bugs or not, it is also a great idea to carry out a treatment to prevent an infestation from popping up out of the blues. This involves intense vacuuming, steaming, and the use of bed bug spray around the apartment.

Concluding thoughts

How important is it to check for bed bugs in a new apartment? It will be traumatic if, after your first few days in a new apartment, you discover that you have been living with bed bugs all along. To avoid such trauma, you must know how to check for bed bugs in a new apartment. Furthermore, you can consider applying bed bug spray even when you don’t find any signs to prevent an infestation from becoming an unwelcome surprise.

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