For many, buying a home is a dream come true. However, buying a house may mean there will be some unwanted roommates waiting for you! Bed bugs are a common concern for anyone buying a pre-owned home or furniture. Bed bugs are extremely small and can be very difficult to find. They can fit through incredibly narrow and small cracks, and spread quickly. Therefore, to detect bed bugs you will need to closely examine your home and possessions. A typical Home Inspection will not cover these or any other pests!

Protect yourself from a pest infestation

It is crucial to inspect any furniture, curtains, baseboards and carpet for signs of a bed bug problem. If you are moving to a new house, make sure you prevent or detect a pest infestation by taking a few precautionary measures. Make sure you avoid a bed bug infestation by hiring reliable professional help. Hire bed bug pest control experts and ask them to inspect the house, as well as the items in it. Another important step is to hire a reliable moving company. Professional movers, like City Moving and Storage Minnesota, have clean and safe vehicles. Also, a reputable mover will make sure you avoid any damages and move to your home according to your timeline. In order to detect bed bugs, you will need to know where to look for them and how to conduct the inspection. In order to make the whole process much easier for you, we have prepared some great tips for inspecting for signs of bed bugs.

Detect bed bugs – look for the signs

Conduct a detailed examination of the home you are interested in purchasing, to detect these elusive pests. The easiest way to inspect a home for bed bugs and treat the infestation is to hire the bed bug pros! Professional bed bug exterminators can save you valuable time and frustration. Whether you decide to hire the pros or ID the issue yourself, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the signs of a bed bug infestation. Here are a few most common clues to look for:
  • Dark stains on mattresses and bed sheets.– This is usually the easiest way to detect bed bugs.
  • Bed bug eggshells and eggs. – The eggs are incredibly small, around 1mm, and have a yellow, pale tone of color.
  • Bed bugs’ excrement.– Tiny dark spots.
  • Small blood stains on  mattresses and bedding. – The sign of crushed bed bugs.
  • Live bed bugs will be difficult but not impossible to spot as well.  
  • Small, itchy red marks on sellers’ skin.

Bed bug bites

The food source for these tiny pests is blood.  The bites can cause rashes, red marks, itchiness, swelling and a burning sensation. However, sometimes, the bites can go unnoticed for days and some folks show no signs of bites at all.

Where to look for bed bugs

Bed bugs are incredibly small and flat, you need to know where exactly to look for them. Bed Bugs enjoy the warmth of a human body, and as they feed on blood, they can often be seen in the area where people spend most of their time. Detect bed bugs by searching in the places they are commonly found:
  • Mattresses and box springs.
  • Bed frames, headboards, and footboards.
  • Drawer and furniture joints.
  • Folds of curtains. 
  • Cracks behind the outlets. 
  • Under wallhangings and loose wallpapers.
  • Door and floor molding.
  • Electrical appliances.
  • Furniture seams.
Check for bed bugs in your home or a home you are considering purchasing by inspecting furniture, curtains, baseboards, etc. In severe infestations, bed bugs can even be found in clusters on walls!

What to do if you find bed bug infestation in a home

There are many infestation treatments. From organic and chemical treatment to professionally trained bed bug sniffing dogs. If you suspect your new home might have bed bugs, the very first thing you need to do is to contact a trusted bed bug exterminator. Highly trained professionals will know the accurate way to locate the problem and suggest the best course of treatment. Finding bed bugs in a home you are interested in purchasing doesn’t have to be a deal breaker but you definitely want to handle the situation before signing on the dotted line!