7 MUST-KNOW Reasons Why You Should Get A Mould Inspection Before Buying A House
By: 911 Water Damage Experts
One of the most exciting aspects of life is buying a new home.
However, you should avoid settling for the first choice that you find.
This can lead to picking up a fully contaminated mould-infested home without you being aware of it.
And in today’s harsh reality, there are a lot of homes nowadays with mould.
In small amounts, some types of mould can be considered harmless.
However, some types of mould can lead to a disaster of epic proportions.
This can ultimately lead to a complete renovation, which is why conducting a mould inspection is highly advised before making a commitment.
A professional mould removal company will look for hidden moisture, air quality problems, and microscopic surface mould and if they find anything, can save you from unwanted stress, time, and money.
How To Check The Home For Mould Before Buying It
Mould can be difficult to see with the naked eye sometimes.
The most common areas where mould can be found are in dark and damp places and in places that are hard to reach. You can even find mould in an HVAC unit and behind walls and beneath the floor.
Once you suspect that the house is infested with mould, there are a few signs that you can look for on your own.
Once you start viewing the home, make sure to look through it carefully to see if you can spot any kinds of discolorations or changes of texture.
These are textbook signs that you can look out for:
– Acremonium: a light, fine powder
– Alternaria: dark green or brown spots that look fluffy
– Aspergillus: layers of green, yellow and white
– Chaetomium: it is usually black and grows around water damage
– Cladosporium: you can find it on carpets or upholstery
– Mucor: this grey mould grows under wet carpeting
– Penicillium: blue and green coloured patches
– Stachybotrys: black mould, and it is extremely toxic
– Trichoderma: wooly clusters that can be white, yellow, or green
– Ulocladium: black mould growing around cracks in tiles or floorboards
If you want to avoid finding yourself in a situation that can cost you a lot of money, it is best to inspect the home for mould before you plunge into purchasing it.
7 Reasons Why You Should Get A Mould Inspection Before Buying A House
1. It Protects The Health Of The Family
Mould can be hazardous to your overall health. If you are exposed to it for long periods, you can develop chronic illness and can also worsen a condition that you may already have. Certain types of moulds can be toxic to humans and about 25 percent of all people have a type of mould allergy.
Mould can also contribute to bad air quality and have some negative side effects. Some of the symptoms of experiencing this include, rashes, headaches, respiratory issues, fatigues, seizures, coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
It also seems that mould can affect children and elderly people the most.
Also, people who are already dealing with a certain type of health issue may find themselves on the more vulnerable side as well.
And since mould has been linked to the development of several serious diseases, you should inspect the home before signing any papers.
2. Protecting Your Investment
One of the biggest investments that you can make is purchasing a home.
If you buy a home that has been infested with mould, you could be looking at a potentially high financial risk, and nobody wants to be faced with that.
Thankfully, there is a way for you to protect your investment.
In this case, it is by having proper quality control done in the home when it comes to mould.
The mould can affect the structural integrity and the foundation of the entire house.
If you leave it unchecked, the mould can easily start destroying everything in the house.
The reason for this is that one of the underlying causes of mould is moisture.
It is a much easier approach to fix a mold problem before buying the home instead of doing that once you are already settled in. This is a decision that can save you a lot of money in the future.
3. Inspection Is Quick And Easy
If you want to schedule a mould inspection, make sure to do it as soon as possible.
The positive aspect of this is that the inspection process does not last a long time.
An inspector will come on-site and take a thorough look at the home, and also, they will ask you a few questions concerning the structural integrity of the home.
Other than that, they will talk you through the process of the inspection and will let you know if they find something.
They will be thorough and will inspect those areas that are hard to reach.
In this case, you need to be aware that the inspection for mould is not something invasive.
It is a very simple procedure that does not interfere with the structure of the house (unless specifically authorized). There is a certain technology that goes into this, such as infrared cameras that detect fluctuations in the temperature.
If advised, the technician can also use some humidity readers to check the moisture levels on walls, ceilings, and floors.
This is done with the help of thermal imaging technology and can help the process of identifying the water damage and help the discovery of mould.
They can even take some photos, videos, and samples of whatever they discover while inspecting. This will help them determine which types of mould are growing in the house.
In addition to this, you may even want to have an air quality inspection. This is a key step before going through the process of buying a home.
If there is mould present, there is a high chance that the air is toxic too. This test can help you uncover that.
4. Discover Potential Future Issues
The moist environments breed mould growth and the reason for this is that condensation happens in the home.
This is a process that happens when there is a large difference in the temperature inside and outside the home.
Mould loves to thrive in conditions that are wet, dark, and poorly insulated.
If your mould inspector discovers that there is an issue with mould in the house, then there might be a bigger underlying issue here and renovations may need to be addressed.
If you identify these points before buying the house you will have the advantage to talk about lowering the price!
5. Start The Mould Removal Process
Starting the mould removal process can be a pretty lengthy one, depending on the condition the house is in.
You can avoid the possibility of spending the next few months dealing with mould in a house that you have just bought.
Thankfully, in some cases, removing the mould can be a very easy process.
All you need to do is get the proper equipment and get on to scrubbing the mould away!
Of course, you would need to schedule a proper inspection before actually trying to fix the situation on your own.
If the mould is not toxic, it can be easily removed with a deep scrub and the proper chemicals.
Bleach is considered to be an excellent chemical if you want to remove mould.
If you feel like this is a very big task for you, you can always call up a professional and have them help you or just do the job for you.
On the other hand, if you notice the growth of toxic mould, then you need to get in touch with a professional.
Sometimes, if the mould appears on carpets or underneath them, it is best to just remove everything altogether, and start anew from scratch.
6. This Is The Due Diligence Of The Buyer
You are the buyer in this situation and you are allowed to take the proper precautions to protect yourself.
When it comes to previous owners or real estate agents, there is no such thing as a mandate to follow any specific obligations concerning mould.
It is normal for buyers to want to inspect the home before moving ahead with the purchase.
This can help supply you with plenty of useful information. The mould inspector can easily signal if there is an issue with the foundation, plumbing, and roof of the house.
The mould inspection should be an addition to the home inspection that would be done on the house, just to make sure that no stones are left unturned.
7. If You Are At A Crossroad, Trust The Professionals
Once you decide to buy a home, you may easily find yourself in a position of not knowing how to move forward.
This is where you can call for reinforcement. The mould inspector will be your support system and will help you determine whether you should go with the purchase or not.
By having a mould inspection, you will shield yourself from any unwanted surprises once you move in. The inspection is an excellent place to start.
Once you are seriously considering buying a home, mould inspection is a step that you should not skip.
There is no risk in scheduling a professional mould inspection because, in the end, the quality of your health and the quality of your new home are what’s at stake here.
This will not only give you peace of mind but will also help people view you as a serious potential buyer.
If you have any questions about mould inspection before buying a home or need mould removal services near you feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT or chat with us in near real-time on our Facebook fan page.
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