What to Do When Your Home Inspection Finds Mold

You’ve done it! You’ve finally managed to purchase or sell your home in this crazy market, and you are now under contract. However, before you can move forward, you’ll want to do a home inspection. Home inspections can reveal a lot about a home, like mold. If mold is discovered during your home inspection, don’t be discouraged. Here are the steps you should take if your home inspection reveals mold.

Don’t Ignore It

The first step, and arguably the most important step, is to not ignore the problem. While you may think you can take care of it later, you should never wait to take care of a mold problem. Whether you are buying or selling, waiting or ignoring it may allow the mold to spread and cause further damage. Prolonged mold exposure is also dangerous as it can lead to respiratory issues, immune disorders, and even life-threatening diseases. Because of the risks, it’s best to get rid of the mold as soon as possible.

Ask Questions

Hopefully, you were able to join your home inspector as they went through the property, so you could see what the issues are. However, if you weren’t able to be present, you’ll want to have the inspector go over their findings and photos with you. If mold is present, here are some of the questions you’ll want to ask as the buyer and seller:

• Where was the mold?
• Is there any water damage?
• What color is the mold?
• Will this cause further damage to the home?

Be sure to ask these questions and any others you may have. By asking questions, you’ll be able to determine how severe the damage is and what the next steps for remediation are. While mold can be cleaned yourself, the only way to make sure it is 100% cleared is with professional cleaning.

Get Your Quote

After finding mold, you’ll want to ask the seller/buyer for some additional time so you can get a restoration company to come and conduct a thorough inspection. As mentioned above, you’ll want to hire a restoration company to remove any mold from your home. Prolonged exposure to mold can be dangerous and cleaning it yourself can make you and your family sick. It also has a higher chance of growing back without the correct equipment.

On top of removing the mold, you’ll also want to perform a professional mold test and inspection. Mold is an invasive fungus that spreads easily and if your home inspection found mold, then there may be mold hiding in other areas of the home. Rapid Restorations’ professional mold test typically can detect the following types of molds:

• • Alternia
  • Aspergillus
  • Cladosporium
  • Penicillium
  • Stachybotrys (Black Mold)
  • Trichoderma
  • And more!

It’s no secret that some molds are more dangerous than others. For example, black mold puts you at a greater risk than green mold. By knowing what type of mold you’re dealing with, you can begin the next steps in removing it.

Negotiate With Seller

Depending on the severity of the mold and your own comfort, you can ask the seller to remedy the situation themselves. You may even be able to negotiate the sale price of the home to offset the cost of the repairs you’ll have to perform yourself. It’s important to note that if you have the seller take care of it, they’ll choose their service and may make their choice based on price rather than reputation.

We suggest taking direct control of the situation. While you probably already have a lot going on, this house will eventually become your home and you’ll want to take care of it with the best service possible. Afterward, be sure to ask the seller if they’d be willing to disclose any damages done to the home that would have caused mold, such as water damage.

Call Rapid and Get it Fixed!

Mold can be caused by several things, including pipe bursts, floods, or extreme weather. Mold also likes to hide behind carpets, walls, and ceilings. Before moving into your new home, you’ll want a professional team to come through and remove any unwanted mold.

Here at Rapid Restoration, our team of experts knows where mold likes to hide. We’ll inspect and test your entire home for mold and remove it like it was never there. Contact us today, and we’ll come to your aid.