Purchasing a home is an exciting new step in anyone’s life. You get to decide how to decorate it, what colour to paint the walls, where all your belongings are going to go, so the last thing you’d want to stumble across is mold growth! Whether the house you are purchasing is newly built, or has been in the neighbourhood for years, a mold inspection should be on your to-do list before going ahead and moving your things in.
When buying a property, it is advisable to invest in both mold and home inspection before purchasing a home, particularly if there is any indication that there are potential moisture issues or if there has been a history of water damage on the property. But an important thing to keep in mind is that a majority of home inspectors are not mold-specialists and do not have the expertise required for proper mold identification, inspection, and removal. That is why it’s important to get mold professionals to handle any mold inspections, testing, and remediation.
Home inspectors can help potential home buyers and future homeowners save a lot of money as they can identify issues prior to purchasing, ensuring that the issues either get fixed by the original owner, or that home buyers should avoid that particular home.
One would assume that any issues a home may have would easily be identifiable at first glance, however, a lot of issues are hidden, and it can be months until the consequences arise, causing problems for new homeowners.
The simple answer is that a home inspector looks for any current or potential issues with the home that is for sale. This can include over a hundred different items on a checklist that are common issues or have the potential to become issues if not dealt with promptly.
A typical home inspection may include some of the following aspects:
1. Inspecting the grounds and foundation: looking at the ground that surrounds the home can easily indicate if future water damage problems are possible. If the ground is sloping towards the home, there are issues with the downspouts, or if the foundation is solid are all things that a home inspector will be able to spot and bring to your attention.
2. Looking at the roof and exterior of the home: inspecting the roof for any missing or cracked shingles, lose, or clogged gutters is essential to know if there may be any current or future water damage. Checking for cracks in the siding, or any evidence of rot or decay is essential for any home inspection.
3. Windows, doors, and trim: all three should be in good working condition to ensure that they can all be shut securely, avoiding any potential drafts, or outside elements making their way inside. An inspector will ensure that there is no rot or cracks, and that all caulking is solid and undamaged.
4. Plumbing: a thorough inspection of all pipes, water heaters, and drains is important, as if there are any indicators of water damage, it will most likely be present here.
5. Homes interior: This can include looking at the walls for any damage, the ceilings for any water spots, checking ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, as well as looking at the electrical systems.
A home inspector will look for visible problems with the home but may not necessarily be able to identify a mold problem.
Similar to a home inspection, a mold inspection begins from the outside of the home and will involve checking every part of the home to see where the source of the mold issues is stemming from. The main difference between a home and mold inspector is that a mold inspector is specially looking for mold related issues.
1. An examination of the exterior: checking where water may be able to enter the home via cracks in siding or near windows if there are issues with the roof or eavestrough will help determine or eliminate potential sources of moisture issues.
2. Inspection of the home’s interior: a mold inspector will then check for visible signs of mold inside the home. This can include checking around pipes for water damage, looking around windows, checking ceilings for water stains, looking in attics if there is one to see if it is properly ventilated or if water is able to get in.
3. Questions: to better understand the history of the home, especially if it is an older one, many questions will need to be asked. Asking about any past water damage issues, what caused the water damage, if any flooding has occurred, as well as the health of the current occupants are all important and necessary questions to better understand origins of mold growth.
4. Air samples: This stage of the inspection process can help discover is there is a mold issue that cannot visible be seen. A minimum of two samples will be taken, one outside the home and one inside. This will determine whether the inside fungal ecological level is normal (the same as the outside sample) or whether the level is higher. An air sample can also determine species of mold and the concentration.
5. Taking samples of contaminated areas: If during a mold inspection a spot of mold growth is found physical samples will need to be taken. This can be done by taking a tape or swab sample, which will then be sent to a third-party accredited lab to get accurate results. These results will help determine the course of action to take when planning for mold removal.
Both a home and mold inspection are important during the process of buying a home, however each require an expert in the field who knows exactly what to look for. Getting home and mold inspections can end up saving you in the future by avoiding the issues altogether.
got mold?™ has a team of certified and qualified professional testers who will identify any potential mold issues at the property you are considering purchasing. Knowing if there are mold issues will help you make a more informed decision during the purchasing process.
If would like your home, or potential home, inspected for mold, contact got mold?™ at 1-888-909-MOLD (6653) and find out more about our services.
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Fill up the form and our Team will get back to you within 24 hours.
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