As if moving isn’t stressful enough, adding bed bugs into the equation can make things really complicated. Deciding whether or not to treat bed bugs before you move is not a cut and dry situation!
Planning to Treat Bed Bugs Before You Move
If you want to get rid of the bed bug problem before you move to a new place, timing is key. If you know you have bed bugs, and you know your lease is up at a certain point (4 months from now, 6 months, etc) this is a critical time to start figuring out a plan.
Bed bug treatments take time. Successfully taking care of a situation before you move to a new place takes time! With proper planning and professional help, it can be done.
Let’s use an example, your lease is up in 4 months and you really want to get the bed bug issue taken care of before you go to a new place.
Call around for estimates now! Find a service provider and price you are comfortable with. First, this will allow you to properly budget ALL expenses, including bed bug extermination, before your big move. Second, this will allow for ample time to deal with a bed bug situation.
If you start the treatment process several months in advance, this will allow you to pre-pack and plan accordingly for items you don’t need on a daily basis, and also to successfully get rid of the bugs. Use a service provider that has a record of success, and that clears your house with a K9 inspection. Having confirmation that the bed bugs are in fact gone is critical to ensuring you will not take them to your new place.
No Time to Treat Bed Bugs Before You Move?
If you are in a situation where you cannot treat bed bugs before you move, you still can successfully get rid of the problem before, during and after the process of moving. It’s a bit more complicated, but it can be done! Be wary of companies that know you are on a deadline and promise to deliver the moon. Bed bug treatments take time, AND multiple applications. Even with a one-time heat treatment, a chemical back up is essential to success.
If your time line is moving within the next month or two, there are key things you can do to get a grip on a bed bug situation now, and limit your risk for the new place.
- Get rid of anything you don’t need or don’t plan to take to the new place.
- DRY (high heat, 30 mins) all bedding, curtains, extra blankets, etc.
- If you don’t use it daily, dry it and pack it up in a sealed trash bag.
- If you use it regularly, then keep drying it weekly. (bedding, blankets, etc).
- Dry and pack any clothing items ahead of time. Pack in SEALED trash bags.
- Wipe down knick knacks, etc and pack in sealed containers or boxes.
You can begin your bed bug treatment process BEFORE you move, by doing a treatment application at your current home. This will help to limit what is taken to your new place.
Right before moving to your new place, it’s a good idea to do a treatment on the new spot as well as on any new furniture that comes in.
If you are planning a move and need to get a bed bug treatment plan in place, give us a call! 216-544-8292
