Buying your first home is one of life’s major milestones. It’s both a sign of your independence and dedication to your new found stability. But along with the joy of ownership comes a heaping helping of responsibility. This house belongs to you, and it’s up to you to take care of it.
One responsibility that new homeowners tend to overlook is protecting your home from pests – especially bed bugs. These tiny insects are tough to get rid of once they move in, and it can be a nightmare for any homeowner to deal with.
If a new home of your own is on the horizon now is a good time for a simple primer on bed bugs. Here are five important tips you should know before moving into your dream house.
Inspect Your New Home Before Settling In
It’s an unpleasant thought, but just because your new home looks spotless that doesn’t mean it’s free of bed bugs. These pests can hide in the smallest cracks and crevices, just waiting for the new tenants to arrive.
Before you move into your home you should inspect the property carefully:
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Examine the bedrooms, focusing on baseboards, electrical outlets, window sills, and carpeting.
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Inspect all of the closets, as well as any built-in furniture and fixtures.
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Look for telltale signs of the presence of bed bugs such as dark spots, tiny shed skins, or reddish stains.
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If possible, hire a professional bed bug inspector to check out your home to give you the all clear.
Be Wary of Secondhand Furniture
We all know that furnishing a new home can be expensive, and buying secondhand can seem like a good way to save some money. However, secondhand pieces are one of the most common ways bed bugs enter people’s homes. These pests love to hide in upholstery seams, wooden joints, and even screw holes. When you bring in used furnishings you run the risk of also bringing in some unwanted guests.
To minimize your risk follow these tips:
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Always avoid curbside furniture. No matter how good it looks it could be hiding bed bugs.
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Thoroughly inspect any used items you do purchase before bringing them into your home.
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Consider having any secondhand purchases professionally inspected, and if necessary treated for bed bugs, before moving them into your new home.
Protect Your Beds
Bed bugs are most often associated with beds. So protecting your beds, mattresses and box springs should be your first line of defense. The best preventative measure is to use bed bug-proof encasements on all of your mattresses and box springs.
Mattress encasements are worth the investment and provide the following benefits:
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Trap existing bed bugs inside where they will eventually die.
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Prevent new pests from invading your bedding.
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Makes inspections easier since many signs of bed bugs will be visible on the surface of the encasement.
Stay Alert to Early Warning Signs
Bed bugs reproduce at an alarming rate. It doesn’t take long for a small bed bug problem to turn into a full scale invasion. As a homeowner, knowing how to recognize the early signs of an infestation can save you from a major emotional and financial headache.
Be on the lookout for:
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Bed Bug Bites – These typically appear as small, itchy welts on exposed areas of the body.
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Fecal Stains – Tiny dark or rust-colored spots on sheets, furniture or walls may indicate the presence of bed bugs.
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Exoskeletons – Bed bugs shed their skin as they grow. These shed skins are an indicator that bed bugs are growing and reproducing in your home.
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Live Insects – Bed bugs are small, reddish brown insects about the size of an apple seed. Rule of thumb – if you see one living bed bug there are probably more in the house.
Make it a habit to check your beds and upholstered furniture regularly. Catching the problem early makes treatment much easier and much less expensive.
Don’t Put Off Professional Help
One of the biggest mistakes all homeowners make is trying to tackle a bed bug infestation on their own. Over-the-counter sprays and powders are mostly ineffective and only end up making the problem worse by driving the bed bugs deeper into hiding.
If you suspect you have a growing bed bug problem contact a licensed pest control professional immediately. Ask about treatment options and schedule a proper inspection as soon as you can. Acting quickly can help prevent an infestation from spreading throughout your home. Remember, bed bugs aren’t going to go away on their own. Timely action is critical.
As a new homeowner the last thing you want to worry about is bed bug infestations. But these pests are more common than many people realize, and prevention is easier (and cheaper) than dealing with a full-scale invasion. By inspecting your home before moving in, avoiding risky secondhand furniture, protecting your bed, staying alert to warning signs, and calling professionals at the first hint of trouble, you can safeguard your investment and enjoy your new space stress-free.
Bed bugs may be persistent, but with the right knowledge and precautions, you can keep them out of your home and focus on building the happy memories that come with home-ownership.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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