It’s never a good sign when having crabs is a better option.  There are a few things you should know.

First, your landlord may have no idea that your home has bedbugs.  The former tenants may not have known, or never  the notified the landlord and it’s always possible that you brought them in. You may have picked them up at a hotel or they could have been brought in by an animal.  Instead of playing the blame game, work together to get rid of the problem before it gets worse and spreads.

Contrary to popular belief bed bugs they are not attracted to filthy homes only.  They feed on the blood of human and warm-blooded animals.  When you inspected the apartment it would be almost impossible to detect them. They can hide in a crevice the thickness of a credit card.

Some people use a bed bug sniffing dog to detect them.  This is helpful, but not 100% accurate.  You can have a pest control company do a thorough search.

How to find them: They are flat, brown little buggers, that look like lentils.  They rarely appear during daytime hours.   Often spotted in the crevices of a mattress, in a box spring, bedding towels, shower curtains, pictures, within books, the folds of drapes. They tend to stay close to the host that they feed on. Bedbugs feed every five to ten days.

Bed bugs can be spotted by the dark spots they leave behind, it’s their excrement.  If you have light colored sheets they’re easier to detect. Sometimes you may crush one after it’s fed and you will discover the blood. Keep a flashlight next to your bed and check in the wee hours, getting up to turn the lights on gives them time to run scamper off and hide.

Most people discover them from the bites that swell on the body within 24 hours.

Getting rid of them: Professional extermination, vacuum every single crevice, sanitize sheets and all clothes in a dryer at 120 degrees or higher.  Have your mattress professionally steam cleaned.  The steam will kill them on contact. If you’ve been meaning to get new bedding, now is the perfect time!

Seal any entry-ways in an attic as they can be carried in by a bird or mouse. Calk up cracks in walls. Spray Neem oil on carpets, curtains and mattresses. Neem oil is made from the seeds of the neem tree it has been used safely for thousands of years in India as a natural insect repellent.

Who’s responsible: Laws vary widely by city and state.  As you are a renter, research the laws in your location on who is responsible to eliminate them.

Most every city has a tenants’ rights organization you can consult. At the end of the day, you also have a responsibility to deal with the infestation.

Report it promptly (make sure to keep a paper trail), agree to and work with your landlord to all extermination methods. If your landlord is not responsive you may need to contact city authorities, and doing so as a group, or as a bunch of individuals, might be more effective. Keep a detailed log. Save receipts of all expenses. Get medical records of bites. Consult an attorney to send a letter requesting to break lease and see what money may be returned to you if the issue is not dealt with.

Will the real estate guru help this apartment hunting newbie??

Of course!  Summer is my favorite time of the work year.   It reminds me of being in my early 20s and that feeling of awe and excitement when anything is possible.  Although you are asking specifically about New York City, these tips apply everywhere.

1. Don’t believe everything you see online (also applies to online dating).  Online ads may be deceptive and false to lure you in.  If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

2. Prepare your documents ahead of time and have them with you.  You will almost always need: a letter of employment, a bank statement, photo identification, application/credit check funds, last year’s tax return, a landlord reference letter, a pay stub (the last 3 if applicable). Gather the same documents from your guarantor/cosigner.

3. Ask friends for their building management’s contact information.

4. Canvas buildings in the neighborhood you like and contact them directly.

5. The further you are from public transport, the cheaper the apartment will be. A10-20 minute walk to the subway equals a 10-20% price break.

6. The same applies to: walk up buildings, irregular layouts and outdated appliances and finishes.  If you don’t cook, do you need a brand-new stainless steel stove and granite counter top?  Can you deal with a 10-year-old oven and Formica? Bank the savings for a rainy day.

7. Look for a local real estate office or agent as they often have roots in the community.  Talk to a few different brokers. Work with the one that understands your needs. If they’re not helpful or knowledgeable, move on to someone else.

8. This is your first apartment and if you don’t get everything on your wish list, you have time to move upwards.  Your home is a process, like everything else in life. I’m 32, cook 4-6 times a week and still don’t have a dishwasher…someday!

9. Keep your eyes open and your nose on the ready from the curb onwards. If something is off, go with your gut and move onto the next.

10. Stick to your budget, but look below and above so you are well educated on the price scale.

11. If you or your cosigner have the resources, offer to pay the years rent in advance in exchange for a price break.  Only do this if you absolutely, without a doubt know that you want to call the apartment, neighborhood and building home for the duration of the lease.

12. Inquire about a two-year lease. Landlords like long-term tenants and will often discount the rent for someone looking long term.

13. Ask your new employer if they have a relationship with any landlords or brokerage firms.  Big firms often work with landlords and their employees can get a price break.

14. Turn a big one bedroom into a convertible 2 bedroom with a pressurized wall and share with a friend.  Cut your expenses in half! Make sure the building allows this.

15. Don’t get pushed into a situation you’re not comfortable with.  Remember, this is your home, your sanctuary and after the long hours you are about to put in, you want the right place to call home.

A new national study has found that gay couples plan to spend 50 percent more on home improvement projects than non-gay couples over the next 12 months.

These study was undertaken by the Chicago-based, online research agency, Socratic Technologies and Target 10, a gay and lesbian marketing agency based in New York.

“Gay couples planning home improvement projects lead the way when it comes to spending,” the study’s authors said in a statement.

LGBT homeowners intend to spend an average of $2,077 within the next 12 months while non-gay couples intend to spend only $1,384, according to the findings.

“With 63 percent of gay homeowners intending to start home improvement projects within the next 12 months, it’s not surprising that more than half also plan on purchasing more new home appliances or furnishings within a year’s time.”

The kitchen in particular is high on the “to do” list.  In the next 12 months, 34 percent of gay homeowners reported that they intend to replace a kitchen appliance vs. 27 percent of straight homeowners.

“Gay men and lesbians have a reputation of being major home improvement shoppers and this survey reaffirms that,” said Matt Tumminello, president of Target 10.  “Renovating and refurbishing homes is in many ways a part of gay culture.  Even in bad economic times, they are not stopping.” Over the last three years, 72 percent of gay homeowners had made home improvements.

The survey also uncovered some interesting findings on how consumers shop.

“We found that gay consumers are shopping in more places than straight consumers to find the items that they want.  This includes both at retail stores and online,” said Jeff Kerr, vice president of Socratic Technology.

Gay consumers reported higher rates of shopping and purchasing at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, Best Buy and the warehouse shopping club, Costco.

“They are savvy shoppers who are determined to find exactly what they want and at the best price,” Kerr said.

The survey also found that gay consumers are looking for high-end products.

Homeowners were significantly more likely to seek out products from top-tier brands such as Viking, Sub Zero, Jenn-Air and Miele.  And while non-gay homeowners showed a willingness to use less expensive materials during the economic downturn, this is something most gay consumers are not willing to do.

But the survey discovered that most companies have been slow to go after gay consumers.

“In the last few years we’ve noticed very few household appliance and home improvement brands taking steps to court gay consumers and no one brand has emerged as a market leader,” said Tumminello.

“Gays and lesbians are famous for their brand loyalty and an opportunity exists to fill that void.  Those first in, win.”

This national online survey was conducted March 17-30 among members of the Socratic Forum and the Socratic/Regent Media Gay Consumer Panels.  Interviews were completed by 301 gay and 310 straight homeowners.

©365Gay.com 2009