After
seeing so many homes with mold problems, I decided that I was going
to have to get out of the home inspection business or become a mold
inspector. I did the latter. I now hold three certifications in mold
assessing and testing. This has also opened other doors for me concerning
indoor air quality and the health effects of poor air quality. In
my opinion, mold is one of the largest issues in purchasing a home.
Mold remediation is very expensive. Mold remediation companies charge
$100.00 to $125.00 per hour for each mold remediation employee, it
is not unusual for a mold remediation job to cost anywhere from $5,000.00
to $30,000.00 to remediate. I recently had a customer move out of
his home because it was going to cost more to remediate it than his
equity in the home. He sued the realtor that sold him the home and
the home inspector that inspected it. Neither one told him the home
had a mold problem. He wanted to give it back to the mortgage company
but they didn’t want it either. He told me that since he moved out
his whole family had an improvement in their health. Mold has probably
killed more real-estate transactions than everything else put together.
Because I am a mold inspector realtors tend to shy away from me. They
are afraid I am going to find mold and kill their deal. Homes that
have a musty odor may possibly have a mold problem. Mold
can be growing almost anywhere in the home. Mold will grow on anything
that has a moisture content of 20% or more. I have even seen mold
growing on metal surfaces it is actually feeding off of the dust on
the surface. A lot of people have suffered not only financially from
mold, but some have had permanent health problems as the result of
mold. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that indoor
mold spores can cause wheezing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning
watery eyes, sore throat, skin irritation, head aches, memory loss,
immune systems suppression, acute or chronic nervous system damage,
hair loss, liver damage, endocrine effects, and cancer. When I am
inspecting your home, I will be looking for indications of water intrusion
into the home either through the roof, basement, or possibly from
broken water pipes. This is part of my normal inspection process.
I don’t charge extra for doing this. If I find mold or the possibility
of water intrusion, I may recommend that we do an air test to determine
if there is toxic mold or high levels of mold spores within the home.
Air testing for mold is not a part of the regular home inspection.
The minimum charge is $300.00 for two air samples. I must have permission
from the seller to do this. I have a form that can be signed by the
seller. I have many connections with mold remediators and can recommend
them to you if need be. I will not recommend any mold remediator that
does his own air testing as this is not in your best interest, and
is a conflict of your interest. Nor will I recommend any mold remediator
that claims that ozone or biocides can cure mold problems. The Environmental
Protection Agency has already determined that ozone and biocides are
not effective in the remediation of indoor mold. It has been determined
by a number of scientists that ozone can damage the wiring in your
home as well as any electronics. It is not a matter of killing the
mold as it is in getting rid of the airborne mold spores. Only remediators
have the equipment and the expertise to rid the air of mold spores.
We do not recommend that homeowners try to remediate their mold problems.
When mold is disturbed the density can increase by 1000% making the
mold problem worse. If you think you have a mold problem I will be
happy to come and do an inspection just for mold. The cost is $100.00.
After
seeing so many homes with mold problems, I decided that I was going
to have to get out of the home inspection business or become a mold
inspector. I did the latter. I now hold three certifications in mold
assessing and testing. This has also opened other doors for me concerning
indoor air quality and the health effects of poor air quality. In
my opinion, mold is one of the largest issues in purchasing a home.
Mold remediation is very expensive. Mold remediation companies charge
$100.00 to $125.00 per hour for each mold remediation employee, it
is not unusual for a mold remediation job to cost anywhere from $5,000.00
to $30,000.00 to remediate. I recently had a customer move out of
his home because it was going to cost more to remediate it than his
equity in the home. He sued the realtor that sold him the home and
the home inspector that inspected it. Neither one told him the home
had a mold problem. He wanted to give it back to the mortgage company
but they didn’t want it either. He told me that since he moved out
his whole family had an improvement in their health. Mold has probably
killed more real-estate transactions than everything else put together.
Because I am a mold inspector realtors tend to shy away from me. They
are afraid I am going to find mold and kill their deal. Homes that
have a musty odor may possibly have a mold problem. 
Mold
can be growing almost anywhere in the home. Mold will grow on anything
that has a moisture content of 20% or more. I have even seen mold
growing on metal surfaces it is actually feeding off of the dust on
the surface. A lot of people have suffered not only financially from
mold, but some have had permanent health problems as the result of
mold. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that indoor
mold spores can cause wheezing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning
watery eyes, sore throat, skin irritation, head aches, memory loss,
immune systems suppression, acute or chronic nervous system damage,
hair loss, liver damage, endocrine effects, and cancer. When I am
inspecting your home, I will be looking for indications of water intrusion
into the home either through the roof, basement, or possibly from
broken water pipes. This is part of my normal inspection process.
I don’t charge extra for doing this. If I find mold or the possibility
of water intrusion, I may recommend that we do an air test to determine
if there is toxic mold or high levels of mold spores within the home.
Air testing for mold is not a part of the regular home inspection.
The minimum charge is $300.00 for two air samples. I must have permission
from the seller to do this. I have a form that can be signed by the
seller. I have many connections with mold remediators and can recommend
them to you if need be. I will not recommend any mold remediator that
does his own air testing as this is not in your best interest, and
is a conflict of your interest. Nor will I recommend any mold remediator
that claims that ozone or biocides can cure mold problems. The Environmental
Protection Agency has already determined that ozone and biocides are
not effective in the remediation of indoor mold. It has been determined
by a number of scientists that ozone can damage the wiring in your
home as well as any electronics. It is not a matter of killing the
mold as it is in getting rid of the airborne mold spores. Only remediators
have the equipment and the expertise to rid the air of mold spores.
We do not recommend that homeowners try to remediate their mold problems.
When mold is disturbed the density can increase by 1000% making the
mold problem worse. If you think you have a mold problem I will be
happy to come and do an inspection just for mold. The cost is $100.00.