Don’t Let Mold Kill Your Real Estate Deal

 In Mold, Mold Inspection, Mold Removal, Real Estate Transactions

After months of hard work preparing to sell your home – decluttering, painting, staging, choosing a realtor and many showings to potential buyers – you’re finally under contract. All you need to do is get through the home inspection and you’re home free. Literally. That’s when you get the news that strikes fear in the heart of most home sellers: your home has mold.

Time to freak out, right? Exposure to mold has been linked to serious health issues – from sneezing and rashes to vomiting and permanent lung damage – and if left untreated, mold can cause costly damage to your home.

But before you begin to despair that you’ll never sell your home, understand that finding mold does not have to be a deal breaker. In fact, once the problem has been identified, it’s as simple to address as any other issue uncovered by a home inspector, like termites or a cracked foundation.

Where does mold come from?

Mold is a fungus that grows in damp, moist, shady places, which is why it’s often found in bathrooms, attics, basements and crawl spaces. Sometimes, mold can flourish unnoticed behind walls, under the roof, in insulation and sometimes even under a carpet if there are high humidity conditions.

What can you do?

Take a deep breath, relax and start turning your dead deal into a done deal with these three simple steps:

  1. Face mold head on. Your first instinct might be to run away from the deal, but that mold isn’t going anywhere. It needs to be addressed, whether your family is living in the home or somebody else’s family is. If mold is discovered prior to the listing, it might be tempting not to disclose the issue, but that is putting you at risk for legal consequences down the road.
  1. Hire a professional to assess the situation. A home inspector does a general overview of the structure, systems and environment but when mold has been identified, you want to bring in a specialist. Stock Environmental Consulting completes hundreds of mold inspections each year and our consultants attend continuing education courses to stay up-to-date on changing environmental regulations and remediation methods. We also carry professional liability and workers’ compensation for your protection.
  1. Know what you’re dealing with. Getting a copy of the home inspection report will be the first step in identifying the extent of the situation and help any mold specialist quantify the problem. Stock Environmental Consulting previews preliminary information, like home inspection reports (which you can forward electronically), free of charge. Turnaround for a mold inspection is typically 3-4 days

Ultimately, you want your real estate transaction to go as smoothly as possible and even thought the detection of mold can cause a snag, it does not have to unravel the entire deal.

Stock Environmental Consulting provides extensive mold inspection and testing, so call us today to get this important matter addressed as quickly as possible and complete the sale of your home or business. Schedule your appointment now at (732) 383-5190.

 

 

 

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