Recently, Habitat Magazine published an interesting article, written by Tom Soter, detailing how Pride Property Management is implementing a new move-in/move-out policy in their buildings to ensure that their for-sale units are free of bed bugs.
These days, Alex Kuffel treats the warning he first heard as a child very seriously: “We used to say, ‘Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.’ Bed bugs are a critical problem.”
We’ve all heard that before. We’ve also heard that boards and management must be proactive, and that they must wage an ongoing education campaign to be certain the residents know about bed bugs and how to cope with them. But Kuffel, president of Pride Property Management, is trying something that he thinks is fairly unusual: a move-in/move-out policy that meets the bed bug issue head on.
“A non-refundable $300 fee must… be given to the superintendent to have the apartment inspected by a certified bed bug inspector, for the presence of bed bugs within the apartment,” the April 2010 policy for the 120-unit Manhattan building says. “The apartment will be inspected prior to the move-in and then again after the residents’ contents have been moved into the apartment. In the event bed bugs are found after the resident moves into the apartment, the resident is solely responsible for all costs incurred with abating the bed bugs….” Read More Here
We at BBFS find this very interesting and encouraging, as we have been advocating Source Elimination as part of a larger Integrated Bed Bug Management Plan (IBBMP) since our inception in 2005. In order to successfully create and maintain a bed bug FREE environment in residences and corporate offices, property owners and managers must create a systematic process for 1.)removing existing infestations, 2.) establishing residual pest control treatment techniques and, 3.) practice preventative treatments for all incoming property (including: bedding, furniture, desks, clothing, electronics, etc.).
One way to create a Source Elimination step inside an IBBMP is to integrate fumigation using Vikane fumigant into your property’s delivery schedule. This can be accomplished by either requiring in-transit fumigation of vehicles/trucks OR use a Fume Cube on-site. For more information on creating a successful IBBMP program for yourself, contact BBFS at 877-9NO-ITCH or visit our website.