Just recently, I was showing a buyer a home and during the home inspection. The inspector mentioned that there was mold in the attic. Just the word “mold” scares many home buyers and sellers. Many mold problems are cheaper to fix than most realize.
Almost every home gets mold infestations. The trick is to mold remediation is to get to them before they get big and harm both you and your home. It is only when mold is found in elevated or concentrated levels that it can become a problem. Mold only grows where there is water or high relative humidity. If is identified around a single window where condensation is present, there is no need to start ripping out walls in other areas of the home that are dry. Focus on the area where the water and mold growth is occurring and remove the mold at its source (e.g. the drywall and wood trim around the window) and eliminating the water source.
In my client’s case, mold was caused by a prior roof problem. The previous owners had placed a new roof over the old roof which had previous roof leaks and issues with poor or improper ventilation in the attic. (This is why having a home inspection is important)
Generally, the cleanup process entails:
-Mold professionals usually discard moldy porous building materials such as drywall, insulation and baseboards. These materials are relatively inexpensive to replace and difficult to impossible to restore to their previous uncontaminated condition.
-Most professionals use some sort of antimicrobial chemical to actually clean the mold and mold stains.
-Mold professionals often use a sealer or encapsulant to make the treated areas more resistant to water damage and mold, and also to help with odor control.Sometimes it is necessary to have your HVAC air ducts professionally cleaned since air ducts can collect dust and mold spores.
If you hire the right mold professional, you will obtain peace of mind for yourself and family that the job was done right and you can regain the clean healthy air in your home that you and your family deserve. You can also breathe a sigh of relief that you do not have to worry about nasty mold impacting your health and others living with you. The house isn’t completely lost just because it has a little bit of mold in the attic. You’re going to want to get it removed, but I would hold off on completely dropping your offer on the home.
As for Sellers: Ideally, you should begin addressing potential mold problems before you ever put your house on the market. Begin by looking your home over as thoroughly as possible. Are there any areas where moisture tends to accumulate? Are there any places that you have not looked in a while, such as behind the water heater, in the basement or in the attic? Have you had any water damage problems, such as a leaking roof or a flooded basement?
Keep in mind that dealing with the mold is a good idea, but it is not the end of the world when it comes to purchasing a home. You can re-mediate mold as easily as fixing any other home issue with a professional within 1-3 days. Mold does not have to kill a transaction when buying or selling a home! Call Me TODAY if you have any questions or would like recommendations of a professional remediation service in your area!
Caron Koteles Riha is a licensed Real Estate Broker with Real Estate One.
Email, Text or Call Caron at (248)379-6651 or Caron@CaronKoteles.com
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