Places To Look For Mold Before Buying New Property
Buying a home is an emotional process. The buyer has several thoughts and considerations and may forget to take into account crucial things like mold. When you’re going to buy a house, you should definitely get a professional home inspection done to find out if the home has any damages, especially mold growth. Mold is common in homes, as it only needs moisture and humidity to thrive.
Dangers of Mold
Mold not only ruins organic materials like hardwood floors and wallpapers but is also harmful to the health of inhabitants. It can spread and exacerbate allergic reactions like sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and skin irritation. It may also prove detrimental for people with already compromised immune systems.
Mold Inspection
This is why moldy homes can be a big no-no, but that would be the prospective buyer’s discretion by weighing out the pros and cons of their decision. A pre-purchase mold inspection will allow you to consider if the home is worth buying since it is prone to mold growth, and since mold spores spread very quickly, this problem may surface again even after mold has been removed the first time.
Now, the problem is that mold often goes unnoticed as it hides away in nooks and crannies of home, where moisture may linger. Before you avail of the services of a professional mold inspection company, you should be able to detect the presence of mold.
Places To Look for Mold
If it is not apparent, not even by its musty odor, here are a few places to look for mold before you buy the new property.
Walls and Floors
If you see stunning hardwood floors in the house that you’re planning to buy, don’t be fooled by love at first sight. Hardwood floors boost the value of homes only if they are free of mold, so do check for mold under hardwood floors. Moisture seeps under wooden floors, where mold may start to form. Similarly, mold may start to grow on walls after water seepage due to heavy rainfall or a roof leak. You may spot a musty scent or see a grey, green or black growth on walls and under floors.
Under Bathroom Rugs and Carpets
Rugs and carpets look great, but they may be hiding mold. When carpets or rugs get wet and aren’t properly dried, they may lock in moisture. This may cause mold to start growing rapidly. Make sure you pick up the rugs and carpets and look under it to ensure there is no fuzzy, moldy formation underneath.
Air Conditioning Ducts
Make sure you inspect the AC unit before you buy a house. Given the presence of moisture in the AC unit, mold often starts to grow inside AC ducts and may go unnoticed by prospective buyers. You can ask for the AC system to be switched on. If you notice a musty odor, this may be indicative of mold. In such an event, you should conduct a deeper inspection of the unit and other parts of the home.
Basement and Attic
If the home has suffered flood or other water damage, mold may still persist in high-humidity areas like the basement. When you plan to buy a home with a basement, you should check thoroughly, especially behind curtains, in crevices, and near areas where the foundation may be leaky.
Similarly, you should also inspect the attic as it is a mold-prone area of the home. There is hardly any ventilation in attics, which can spur mold growth. In an attic, you should especially check for mold on the roof or near the water heater.
Fireplace and Chimney
Since fireplaces and chimneys are damp and dark, they create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Since chimneys and fireplaces often go unchecked by potential buyers, they will never know if they are moving in a mold infested home. Make sure you check these areas for the presence of mold.
Sink and Toilet
Since the bathroom is constantly exposed to moisture, bathrooms may be susceptible to mold growth. When you are inspecting your prospective home’s bathroom, make sure you check under the sink and toilet. You can detect mold by its greenish black appearance, which may also appear powdery. You should also check around the bathtub and faucets for mold growth.
Under the Kitchen Sink
While the kitchen of the home you plan to buy may look free of mold, you should always check under the kitchen sink, which would constantly be exposed to moisture. Take a good look under the kitchen sink to ensure it is clean and does not have any green, grey, brown or black growth that may be a type of mold.
Garage
If the home has a garage, make sure to thoroughly inspect it for the presence of mold. A garage is often exposed to rainfall, so it can be damp, dark and cool, all of the things that would give mold room to grow and thrive. Check the garage for any specific smell or growth that could be indicative of mold.
911 Restoration of Glendale
As a seller, if you notice mold inside your home, you should contact 911 Restoration of Glendale for their professional mold removal and remediation services for a mold-free home to attract a larger score of prospective buyers.
