Mold and Real Estate
Two of the most common areas for mold growth to occur are areas that are often only viewed during a home inspection – the crawlspace and attic. It’s a terrible feeling when you get a great offer on your home only to have the home inspection find the crawlspace or attic (or both!) full of mold.
Crawlspaces, because they are below ground level and contain HVAC, plumbing, and dryer exhaust vents, often contain mold in localized areas or throughout the crawlspace structure. Crawlspaces are also subject to ground water, sprinkler flooding, and elevated humidity due to inadequate ventilation. Attics also house HVAC and ventilation ducts, and are subject to humidity issues and localized problems stemming from roof leaks.
Unfortunately, because crawlspaces and attics are small, miserable, dirty places to crawl around in, they are rarely seen or closely evaluated until done out of absolute necessity. A crawlspace or attic may go 20 or 30 years before being inspected- this means that often it contains a problem that has been left uncorrected for 20-30 years. A disconnected bathroom vent may seem like a small problem, but left for 30 years and it can cost thousands of dollars or a new roof to fix.
Here are a few tips in dealing with mold when selling or buying a home:
Don’t be caught off guard when you go to sell your house! If you are thinking about listing your property it can be very advantageous to have your home inspected a few months prior to ensure that you have adequate time to fix any major problems. Often home sellers are forced into hiring inadequate contractors at inflated prices because they find themselves in a pinch needing to get work done before a closing date. Having a few months to take care of issues without stressful deadlines or anxious buyers breathing down your neck can save you thousands of dollars and many nights of stress.
Document Document Document! If you are selling your home and have/had mold damage, you will be required by law to disclose it. If you have had the problem taken care of, make sure that the work was backed by a warranty that is attached to the address or can be transferred to the new owners. Make sure your restoration company of choice is certified and insured. Keep all documents including a paid invoice to present the buyers at closing. If you are doing the work yourself, make sure to have the work inspected by a third party certified in mold inspection. Buyers will want to make sure the work was done correctly and a clearance report from a inspection company can help alleviate these fears.
Ensure that work was done correctly. If you are buying a home with a mold issue that needs remediated, make sure that your contingency documents detail that the work needs to be done by a certified mold specialist. For added peace of mind and protection of your future investment, its always a good idea to have the work inspected by a third party inspector.
Use a company that you trust. There are lots of honest restoration companies who do quality work, but there are also shady outfits who will charge you way too much while providing a low quality job. You may be able to find someone willing to beat everyone’s price but if they don’t know what they are doing or are operating illegally without proper certification or insurance, it can just lead to causing more problems and costing more money. If you can’t get recommendations from your realtor or friends, get multiple estimates so that you have a chance to talk to different companies about their methods and cost.
Mold can be a scary subject especially when real estate transactions are involved and inspectors start throwing around terms like ‘black mold’, ‘toxic’, and ‘microbial growth’. Mold is a nightmare when not dealt with properly. However, following a few simple steps through the process can make mold remediation a straightforward process for buyers and sellers alike.
Tags:atticcertifiedcrawlspacehealthinspectionmoldreal estatetoxic
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