Forget about the mortgage lenders, credit scores, and debate over listing prices of homes for sale. One of the newest problems home buyers, home sellers, and realtors are facing these days is bed bugs, which have invaded every single state. The problem, unfortunately, is getting worse, as reports show the number of infestations across the country is growing.

Any pest control service in NJ, or anywhere else in the United States, will tell you that these awful little pests are equal opportunity creatures. They will invade anywhere, in a luxury high rise, or a rundown shack of a house. It doesn’t matter. They are not drawn to a structure for any reason other than finding a convenient opening to crawl through. Part of the problem is that people may not even know they have them until they see bed bug bites on themselves or those who live or visit their home. You may even need to find bed bug bite pictures to make sure you know what you’re dealing with. These bites may carry with them disease and can be uncomfortable both mentally and physically.

So, what are bed bugs and what do bed bugs look like? Bed bugs are extraordinarily small, nocturnal insects that hide in dark crevices during the day while feeding on blood at night. They have oval bodies that are flat before a feeding. They have undeveloped wings and they are a light to dark red/brown color. Adults can grow between a quarter of an inch to 3/8 of an inch, which is about the size of an apple seed. As they feed, their bodies grow a deeper color and they bloat, kind of like a tick. One of the differences between the insects is that a bed bug will release an anesthetic into the body of its pretty, which can cause red, itchy welts. They feed every 2 to 3 weeks, and must feed at least once in order to grow to their next level; however, these little pests can survive for up to seven months without a blood meal. That means that empty house you’ve been eying can still have bed bugs in it.

As you’re searching for your dream house with your realtor, keep in mind that you should beware. Do your due diligence before finalizing any home sale, because you may be buying a home that has a serious bed bug problem. While most states require home sellers to disclose any defects with the house, including pest infestations, there are some loopholes in the laws. Specifically, these sellers’ disclosure documents don’t ask specifically about bed bugs or other pests, other than termites. These legal documents haven’t been updated since the outbreak of bed bugs started, so it’s unlikely that any state’s disclosures will ask specifically about these nasty annoyances. The best thing to do is make sure your inspector takes a look for bed bugs as well as any signs of pest extermination in the past.

Before you buy your home, call on an experienced pest control company, like Ross Environmental Solutions. You can read about the company’s extensive menu of services at www.rossenvironmentalsolutions.com. The company is well known for its ability to safely and quickly eliminate pest infestations, whether you have bed bugs, termites, ants, or other types of insects.

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Article Source: Ross Environmental

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