My New Home Was Recently Fumigated - Should I Be Concerned?

The journey to home ownership is an adventure that often feels like you’re taking one step back for every two steps forward. Things seem to be moving along fine, then suddenly an issue crops up that makes you wonder if you’ll have to start your search all over again. Negotiations, home inspections, unforeseen issues with your lender… it can be a stressful time in your life.

If you’ve made it far into the journey and home ownership seems imminent, the last thing you want are any last-minute curve balls heading your way. That’s why learning that your new home was recently fumigated could be something that creates apprehension about moving into your new home. Is it safe? Why was it done? Should it have been done? These are all questions that may run through your mind.

First, let us assure you that your home is safe. Fumigation is a process that uses gases, not chemical sprays, which means that there is no residue left behind.

Also, although the gas with the active ingredients is toxic during the process, there are plenty of safeguards in place to ensure your family’s safety. The area to be fumigated is tented to stop people from entering; a gas with an odor is also released to ensure that no one who may somehow slip inside during the process will stay inside; and the gases are continually monitored so that safe levels are reached before anyone is allowed back indoors.

If your new home was recently fumigated, you’ll want to learn why. Fumigations are done to eliminate a number of pest problems, including termite infestations, bed bug infestations, and pantry pests. Knowing what type of infestation occurred in your home will help you to take any necessary steps towards ensuring that your new place is move-in ready when you finalize the sale.

Fumigation is not an automatic reason to back out of buying a house. In fact, there are definite benefits to buying a home that was recently fumigated.

First, you can rest assured that you will start life in your new home in a pest-free environment. That allows you to take preventative measures against potential pests instead of reacting to established problems.

Secondly, you will know the kinds of problems the previous owners dealt with, and which ones you may need to guard against more vigilantly in the future.

Thirdly, fumigation is a very effective way to eliminate pests, so you can rest easy when you move in. Because gases can pass through walls and floors, even the hardest to reach pests are exterminated during a fumigation, unlike with bug bombs that only release chemicals into the air that then settle onto your belongings.

Rest assured, a recent fumigation is not an end to your new home dreams. In fact, it could be the fresh start both you and your new house needed to welcome you to the next chapter of your life.