Real Estate Transactions: Mold Inspection Issues and Solutions
Real Estate Deal-Killers:
- Bad Science kills sales. Bad Inspectors scare buyers, then mold stigma sticks with the property.
- Poor remediation or cover-ups. Colored sealer coating in the attic — tan “paint” in Chicago suburbs ended two sales where we inspected for the buyer. There was no way to prove remediation was performed or if the paint was just slopped over cracked roof plywood sheeting.
- Not using reputable, professional, well-trained remediator that wants an industrial hygienist involved for quality assurance (QA) for post-remediation inspection and sampling.
Real Estate Deal Savers:
- Professionalism, Qualifications, and ACAC Certifications are paramount in the situation.
- After proper remediation of an attic, it actually can add value to the home since the fungicidal sealers will make it more mold resistant than raw wood to future incidents.
- Documentation by remediator and scientist/hygienist can be presented to buyer for disclosure due diligence.
Talk to a Mold Expert Today at 847-344-0607
Mold & Preserving Real Estate Deals
Whether you are the owner or buyer you need an objective and scientific determination of whether a mold problem exists and how to correct the problem and remove the mold. As a buyer, you need to have the right information to make a decision as to whether you need to walk away from the deal or work it out with the seller if they are cooperative. As a seller, you need a consultant that can accurately portray the situation and address any concerns a buyer may have either in the report or over the telephone if requested (this has been requested on a few occasions).
If you are selling a property it is a good idea to perform an inspection for mold before the home or building inspector does. This way if there is a problem you can take care of it without a time crunch. Then you can get competitive bids for the remediation and not hold up closing on the property. Taking care of mold and water damage issues also prevents the new owner from litigating against you following the sale.
If you are considering the purchase of a foreclosed property it is imperative that you have a mold study and thermal imaging moisture survey performed by our Certified Environmental Thermography Consultant (CETC) to prevent owning a home requiring possibly tens-of-thousands of dollars of mold remediation. It may look fine on the surface but if mold and/or water intrusions are hidden, you may unknowingly buy it.
Often home inspector reports are the first indication of a possible mold problem. Unless the home inspector has some type of field investigative certification held by the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) such as CIEC and CETC they are not qualified to determine the presence or absence of mold, if mold-related occupancy issues exist, or if remediation necessary. Clean Air Sciences, Inc. personnel are qualified and ACAC-certified. Follow these link icons for more information.
Attics
Mold in attic from poor ventilation.
Hidden Mold
Mold in crawl space on floor joists and sub-flooring.
Dishonest Seller
Mold covered up in basement by seller behind new baseboards prior to the purchase. Resulted in remediation of entire basement and costs in excess of $10,000.
Hidden Water Line
IR imaging shows air conditioning condensate drip line behind drywall that caused condensation and mold growth on back side of drywall – was not visible with naked eye during real estate mold and IR moisture inspection and would have remained hidden without IR survey of basement.
