Bedbug ? In Inwood Apartment

[blueshoes76]

I fell in love with an Inwood apartment today--it's right off the 207th A stop, nice size, building seems decent

Comments

[rosefox]

Bedbugs aren't dangerous (they don't carry diseases and very few people are allergic to them) but they are extremely annoying. If you're willing to take the risk, get the landlord to agree in writing to pay for a full exterminator sweep and treatment before you move in and every month thereafter, just in case. You might be able to get a discount on rent, too.

207th and Cooper is a pretty decent part of the neighborhood.

[blueshoes76]

Thanks, there's no broker fee even though they're going through a broker so I have a feeling that's the "discount."

[heatherella]

This is great advice.

[gezellig_girl]

Bedbugs gross me the eff out, so it's a little hard for me to be rational about the idea of willingly moving in to a building where the little freaks may be lurking. They're def. In my experience, they're not par for the course in Manhattan, though. My building hasn't had any, nor have I seen any disposal of mattresses en masse on my block.

I guess it really boils down to just how in love you really are with that apartment. If you love it that much, then get them to spray it and maybe even go as far as investing in some anti-bedbug gear (mattress covers, etc.) - an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

[gezellig_girl]

Aw man, I was so wigged out by bedbugs, I didn't copy edit before posting! Just ignore the "They're def." Unless you want to believe bedbug have some def jams or something.

[blueshoes76]

Though I grew up in the era of MTV's "Joe's Apartment" I did not imagine little hip hop bedbugs dancing around the apartment.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel like this is a problem in so many buildings, and that the devil I know may be better than the one I don't. Also, the broker e-mailed me this morning to say there was a lot of interest on the apartment, but I'm pretty sure he'd say that no matter what.

[janabanana74]

I have a feeling that this is my bldg - and yes, there was a huge bed bug problem here this year. But I still love the bldg, it's great, the apts are huge and cheap, and I've enjoyed living here.

[blueshoes76]

Jana, would you say the situation is under control now, and were you satisfied with how management handled it?

[janabanana74]

They were slow to respond, but after the tenants banded together, I think they handled the problem. I haven't heard of any issues in a while. The tenants have gotten pretty good at letting each other know about things.