- Alison Banks
Buying and Selling a Home With Mold
It is important for anyone interested in buying and selling a home to know that almost all real estate transactions can be saved when mold is discovered. Buying and selling a home with mold is not only possible, it is often far easier and cheaper to resolve than most people realize.
Consider the health effects of mold when buying real estate.
There are two primary concerns for both buyers and sellers of homes regarding mold:
Health effects of mold
Cost to fix the mold problem
Health effects of mold.
Despite media hype, most health effects related to mold are exaggerated and unproven. To the best of our knowledge, there is no existing scientific proof that mold exposure is related to the onset of deadly diseases like cancer.
However, this is not to say there are no health effects from mold exposure. There can be health effects that are typically allergy related and similar to how someone might respond to other allergy irritants like pollen. Some mold symptoms can include a runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, skin rash, eye irritation, sore throat, or sneezing.
If you have allergies like us, these above symptoms can make you feel miserable. So the mold problem should be taken care of properly before you move into your dream home. But there are other really important points for buyers and sellers to consider concerning mold health effects.
Everyone responds to mold differently. There is a spectrum between those people who are very sensitive to mold versus. others who are not. The highest risk populations to mold exposure include infants and children, pregnant women, the elderly, people who are already sick or have existing health conditions and those who have respiratory conditions like asthma.
If a mold problem is fixed properly, you can rest easy. It is not going to suddenly come back without warning in 5 years. Unless: the water problem is not fixed. In other words, the cause of all mold problems is: water. The presence of mold indicates a water problem. If the mold is properly removed, but the water problem remains unfixed, it is likely that the mold problem will return.
The Cost of removing mold before selling a home
What does it cost to fix mold that is discovered during a home inspection?
The answer depends on several factors. But in some cases, believe it or not, you may be able to remove the mold yourself without seeking professional help.
Whether or not you can fix the mold problem yourself is based on several factors:
Size of contamination area: According to the EPA, if the mold area is less than about 10 square feet, it may be manageable without professional help. This is not a hard and fast rule but just a general guideline and other factors such as the extent of the water damage overall need to be considered.
How handy the individual is: You should be comfortable and experienced with doing household repairs because even many minor mold jobs usually involve using tools, taking down drywall, etc. Do your research or check out our DIY Mold Removal eBook.
Susceptibility to mold health effects: People who are sensitive to mold or who fall into the high risk group above should not be around mold and should leave the removal to professionals.
Location of the mold: Confined spaces like crawl spaces and attics often have mold. Due to the tight space, reduced ventilation and higher risk of injury it is recommended to seek professional services for mold removal in these areas.
If mold is discovered during a real estate transaction and the parties decide to hire a professional to fix it, how much is it going to cost?
The answer: Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand or more.
It just depends on the extent of the mold problem and how much work is going to be needed. But based on our experience, most mold problems in real estate transactions are usually on the smaller size and cost far less than most sellers and buyers would assume.
Mold is discovered during a home inspection. Is it necessary to hire a mold inspector?
The answer: usually no. The reason: once you know you have mold, you just need to get rid of it. This is the same advice the EPA provides.
If mold is discovered during a home inspection is it necessary to hire a mold inspector?
The answer: usually no. The reason: once you know you have mold, you just need to get rid of it. This is the same advice the EPA provides.
Make sure to check out the attic and crawlspace before closing on the property
Attics and crawl spaces are without a doubt the two most likely places that a home inspector is going to find mold. This discovery often catches buyers and sellers by surprise because neither probably looked in these spaces beforehand. Our advice to sellers is for you or someone else to take a quick look at your attic or crawlspace before you put your home in the market to check for mold. If mold is discovered, it is much better to fix it before you list your property.
Who pays for mold remediation of a property that is on the market?
Typically, the seller of the property is responsible for the costs of mold remediation. However, it is important to review the details of the sales contract to determine which party is responsible for mold remediation.
When to walk away from a house with mold
When searching for a home, you should be aware of the risks associated with buying a house that has mold. If you're buying a house with significant mold infestation, it's best to identify how extensive the project will be before investing. Mold can cause serious health issues and can cause structural damage to the home. It's important to make sure that any house you're considering is free of mold before closing on the home.
Understanding Mold Disclosure Laws
One final thing to note is that mold disclosure laws vary from state to state. This means some states require sellers to disclose the presence of existing mold or prior mold, while others do not. Below you can find resources to understanding mold disclosure laws in the states that Moldman has franchise locations:
What can you expect if you’re buying or trying to sell a home with mold?What does all of this mean if you are buying or selling a home and mold is involved?
To summarize:
If you are a buyer of a home, don’t walk away from your dream home because a little mold is discovered. In fact, you may even receive a great deal on a home with mold because other buyers will lose interest due to lack of education. And you can usually skip the mold inspection.
If you are a seller of a home, don’t panic. Many mold problems are far cheaper to fix than most realize and can sometimes be done by the homeowner.
If you are the buyer or the seller (or anyone else for that matter), health effects of mold are typically allergy related and other symptoms are often unproven. Also, mold disclosure laws vary from state to state.