If you’ve been house hunting for a while now, you may be relieved to have finally found your dream home. Before closing the deal, be sure to hire a home inspector for your peace of mind. Then, if the home inspection report reveals obvious signs of water damage, seriously consider scheduling a separate mold inspection as well.

Why a Mold Inspection is Important

Is mold hiding in the home you’re about to buy? This could be a serious problem for several reasons:

  • Mold can make your family sick: While Stachybotrys—also known as toxic black mold—is the most notorious type of mold you can find in a house, many species can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
  • Mold can damage a home’s structural integrity: Mold weakens whatever it grows on. If mold is hiding in the floor joists, wall studs, or ceiling rafters, the home’s structural integrity could be compromised.
  • Mold can cause hundreds or thousands of dollars in property damage: Left unchecked, mold can spread across a home’s structure and damage the personal belongings inside. Years of hidden growth could result in expensive repairs.

Signs of Mold in Your New Home

When you walk around a home for sale with your realtor or inspector, be on the lookout for these signs of water damage that could indicate hidden mold growth:

  • Stains on the walls and ceilings: Yellowish-brown rings on these surfaces indicate a prior water leak. Even if the seller claims that the leak has been repaired, mold may remain.
  • Musty odors: Pay attention to how the home smells. If the basement, bathrooms, or other areas have a distinct musty odor, that’s a sure sign of mold growth somewhere. In particular, smell the carpet for musty odors since this is a prime place for water damage and mold growth to occur.
  • Humid interior: Too much moisture creates the perfect conditions for mold to grow. Pay attention to any mugginess in the air or signs of dripping and standing water.
  • Poor soil grading: If the land around the house slopes toward the foundation, the basement could have water damage and hidden mold growth behind the walls.

Whose Responsibility is it to Remediate Mold in a Home for Sale?

The seller or realtor should schedule professional mold remediation before buyers even enter the picture. But if mold is overlooked until your inspector finds it, you could get stuck dealing with a problem that was never supposed to fall on you. Unless the house is being sold “as is,” ask the seller to schedule and pay for mold remediation before you close the deal.

Trust DKI to get your new house move-in ready. Our professional mold removal company can tackle hidden growth and help you pinpoint the source of the mold to prevent a recurrence. To schedule mold remediation services in your area, please contact DKI online or call us at 877-533-0210.