• June 22, 2024

What to do if Your Home Inspector finds Potential Mold Growth?

If you are in the process of buying or selling a home and your Home Inspector found potential mold, it can be quite concerning. If you are buying the home, you might be worried that the home you thought was your dream home has a serious problem. For the seller, if you made it all the way to the home inspection you likely thought you had the home sale closed and this could ruin the sale.

Many home inspectors choose not to get involved with the specifics on mold. While some are Certified for it, others tend to stick with the “generalist” ideology and that they are simply there to point out potential issues, which is why a home inspection report typically says “potential mold” when it is not tested and confirmed.

The good news is that mold problems can typically be addressed and unless there is big problem with the source or the two parties cannot negotiate fixing the problem or adjusting the purchase price, it really should not kill a sale. This guide will walk you through the steps to take if mold is discovered during a home inspection, ensuring you handle the situation responsibly and protect your home and health.

1. Understand the Home Inspector's Role

Ask for clarification with your home inspector if they are certified for mold or not and if they could often any further information on what mold remediation steps would be necessary to fix the issues. Most home inspectors that are certified for mold would have offered mold testing if they were certified but you never know. Understand that there are limitations to home inspectors especially in states that have licensing for mold and try not to get frustrated if their advice is to get a mold assessment.

2. Get a Mold Inspection with Mold Testing

If the home inspector cannot offer details on what needs to be done, obtain the services of an independent mold inspector like MI&T. A mold inspector will do a similar visual check as a home inspector, but they will also collect mold test; air and/or surface tests. The samples collected are sent to an independent lab for analysis. Once the results are received, the inspector will use their experience to develop a conclusion on whether or not mold remediation is necessary. When hiring a mold inspector make sure you use one that provides a mold remediation protocol when necessary.

3. Assess Health Risks

Consult Health Professionals: While waiting for the results of your mold inspection. Ask yourself if you or your family is sensitive to mold. If you have been living in the property and have been having health issues, consult with a physician to see if it may be related.

4. Receive Mold Report

After the mold testing results come in, the mold inspector will provide a detailed mold inspection report. It will either be a Clearance Report or a Mold Remediation Protocol.

a. Clearance Report- This is a report of the inspectors findings and test results showing that professional mold remediation is not necessary. There may still be some action items so pay attention to the details.

b. Mold Remediation Protocol- When the inspector concludes that mold remediation is necessary, they will also lay out a plan for mold remediation to be carried out by a Restoration Professional. This is valuable as it is an independent party setting the scope of work rather than someone who has an interest in the job being larger than it needs to be.

5. Hire Qualified Professionals

Choose Certified Specialists: Select mold remediation companies certified by organizations like the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). Some states require licensing, but it is usually the same ones that require a licensed mold inspector, so you have likely already done your homework on this. The beauty of having a mold inspection done prior is you can typically send it to Mold Remediation Companies for a ballpark quote. Now we don’t recommend going overboard with this as most reputable companies have similar pricing, and you should respect people’s time. Choose 1-3 of those companies you spoke with to come look at the property, give a more detailed price and choose the one you are most comfortable with.

6. Mold Remediation, Clearance Testing and Source Addressal

The Mold Remediator will perform the work they were hired to do. It is very important that the source of water or moisture is addressed as well to prevent problems from reoccurring in the future. Once the work has been performed, the mold inspector should return for “Clearance Testing.” In the event it fails, the Contractor will come back for a re-clean, followed by secondary clearance testing. It should be negotiated that the Contractor covers the costs of failed testing to avoid unnecessary costs or disputes.

Once the Mold inspector confirms the job is complete, reconstruction can take place. **This is especially important for a real estate transaction as the cost to fix a source may be more expensive than the mold remediation itself. A home needing a roof replacement is the perfect example of that but that should be noted in the original home inspection report.

7. Reconstruction

Not all but most mold remediations will require some amount of demo; removal of damaged materials. Once the remediation is completed and the mold inspector issues a clearance letter, reconstruction can take place.

8. Document Everything

Keep Records: Maintain copies of inspection reports, remediation plans, invoices, and any communication related to mold issues. These documents are valuable for insurance claims, future reference and if ever having to disclose a mold remediation took place.

Your documentation will show that everything was handled by professionals and alleviate concerns.

We understand that dealing with a real estate transaction where a home inspector found mold can cause a lot of anxiety. It is important to have professional consultation from someone that does not use scare tactics. Indoor mold growth is not something fun to deal with but as long as the problems have been addressed properly, there should be no reason that someone should fear inhabiting a property that had work performed on it.