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Buying a new home should always be a happy memory to look back on. But let's not get ahead and talk about the time when you're just looking to buy a house. One thing you need to keep in mind when looking at potential homes is mold growth. Mold can be a serious problem and is often easily identified by a musty odor in the house. It is usually found in places where there is excessive moisture or areas that experienced water leaks that weren't repaired within 24 to 48 hours.
If you're planning on buying a new home, you need to figure out whether a mold inspection is needed or not. However, in most cases, it's preferable to get the property tested for mold as a safety measure.
There are several things you can do and definitely should do when you're about to buy a new house and mold testing is something that sits at the top of the chart. If a property has mold, this is something you should know ahead of time since mold can be hazardous to your health and also costly to remove.
It's always smart to be prepared for everything in advance. Before you purchase a new property, you need to make sure it's safe and mold-free. This is done by getting a mold inspection performed before you sign the papers. Another thing to keep in mind is the importance of getting any type of mold testing or inspection done by a company that is certified and licensed to do such work. You want professionals who specialize in detecting mold and are equipped to find all of its species, including the highly hazardous black mold.
From a seller's perspective, getting the mold treatment done early not only costs less money but getting an official certified report showing that the house is mold-free can increase the property value and your chances of selling.
And from a buyer's perspective, you are already making a significant investment, and having to remove mold after the purchase will only add to the cost. Getting a mold inspection service done doesn't cost much, and when you consider how much money it can save you, this decision should be a no-brainer.
If you're looking for more reasons and benefits of getting an inspection done before signing the papers, no need to look any further. Getting a mold detection done before purchasing:
It's important not to confuse a regular home inspection with a mold inspection as the two are quite different. A regular house inspection evaluates the general condition of a house by inspecting things like the foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Although a house inspector can sometimes find mold if it's visible, it does not focus on finding hidden mold growth that doesn't show obvious signs.
A mold inspection is only focused on determining if a property has mold. It is done by a mold inspector who is trained, certified, and has the necessary equipment to detect mold even if it's hidden from sight. This process also involves detecting hidden leaks or moisture problems that are conducive conditions for mold growth.
Whenever a house has a mold problem, it's important to get it addressed as quickly as possible. There are many different species of mold and some of them like black mold can be very dangerous. Mold can make living in a mold-infected home insufferable for those who suffer from allergies and result in mold allergy symptoms like irritation in the eyes, nose, lungs, and throat. People with asthma are also very prone to experiencing adverse effects from mold exposure and may suffer increased asthma attacks.
From a financial perspective, even a well-maintained house may lose at least 3% of its value if it has mold. And if mold goes unnoticed, it will continue to spread and cause further damage, which will greatly increase the overall mold remediation and repair costs.
Getting a mold inspection service is essential when buying a new house because not being aware of mold can lead to numerous health hazards. A professional mold inspection company will generally inspect the entire house, including the outside, crawl space, and attic.
Additional attention will be given to areas that are commonly prone to mold. Some of the common areas for mold include the air ducts, basements, bathrooms, and concrete block walls. A mold inspector will ensure to check these areas thoroughly with the help of various tools to aid in finding mold.
Mold testing is another type of service to detect mold. This service involves testing the indoor air quality for mold spores and taking surface samples from suspected spots such as colored patches on the wall, to test if it's mold or not. This is an additional service to the mold inspection and is needed when mold is suspected, but no visible signs can be found. In other words, a mold air test can confirm the presence of hidden mold that may be hiding from sight behind the drywall or other inaccessible areas.
Whenever you find that ideal house you wish to purchase, make sure you first reach out to a local mold inspection company near you. O2 Mold Testing has over 15 years of experience in giving people the knowledge needed to make a more informed decision when purchasing a property.
If you're still wondering why you should hire a mold inspector to check a house for mold, here are a few reasons:
If you suspect mold or would like to know if a house is mold-free, O2 Mold Testing is just a call away - 888-202-1680. We are fully certified and specialize in visual mold inspection and testing. Our mold specialists are here to eliminate the risk of buying a new home with hidden mold problems. Since we don't perform any remediation, there is no conflict of interest, assuring you of reliable and accurate results.