June 29th, 2010 | 
Author: I live in Brooklyn, where, unfortunately, there is a severe bed bug problem. I’ve been lucky enough to live here for 2 years without being infested. (knock on wood.) However, so many friends who have had the pests have freaked me out so much that I’m considering getting the apartment I’m about to move into fumigated or sprayed even though there seem to be no sign of the buggers.
Is there a downside to this, other than cost? Or a better way to keep from getting bed bugs while moving?
Posted in Q&A | 
Tags: apartment, bed bug, bed bugs, brooklyn, bug problem, buggers, downside, knock on wood, pests
I think that’s a good idea!!! go ahead and do it to ease your mind.=)
I never gave bed bugs any consideration until I researched them – YUCK!!!! I would either clean the place or fumigate – but they can come through openings in the walls and floors – so maybe a good bleach scrubbing which would allow you give a hands on inspection of plumbing pipes etc. that might allow access. Then you can caulk those places.
Her try this site for more info and ideas: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/
There’s no harm in treating the apartment before moving in, after all you never know what the previous tenants may have left behind in the carpet.
I’ve moved several times for work, and before moving into a place, I set out the Raid indoor foggers to just make sure that all previous “tenants” are gone before I take up residence.
In my area, we have problems with Fleas, Spiders and Ants.
Good luck!
http://www.ci.portland.me.us/hhs/hhsbedbugsmanual.pdf
Sarah,
I would say this is a great idea if you can afford to do it. That said, I woudl do it myself rather than paying someone else way too much money to treat for something that may not even be there.
There are a number of sprays that seem to work on contact that are non-toxic so they would be safe for you to apply yourself.
The one I have used is called BedBug Terminator and it is sold online by a company called Kleen-Free.
You may want to check and see if that is what you would want.
Good luck,
Susie