Mold can take over a home very quickly if it has the right atmosphere in which to thrive. Before you buy any home, you should do a complete inspection. One of the best places to find a good company in Tallahassee is Yelp. Below are some simple guidelines you can use to determine whether or not mold has invested a home you may want to purchase.
Water Marks
Water marks on the walls of a home are one way to identify a possible mold problem. Mold thrives on moisture. Watermarks are a sign that the property may have been damaged by a water intrusion. The watermarked areas, if left untreated, can lead to mold infestation. Contact 360 Degrees Home Inspections for an inspection.
Musty Smells
Musty smelling rooms are also a sign that there may be a mold infestation in the home. Laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and basements that smell musty are all clues that the home may be infested with mold. If you smell must in the kitchen, be sure to open the kitchen cupboards where plumbing may be installed to see if the musty smell is stronger in this area. If the bathroom has cupboards around the wash basin, then open them and look out for the smell of must. If the musty smell increases once kitchen and bathroom cabinets are open, then this is a sure sign of mold infestation.
Stucco Construction
If your potential home was built in the last three or five years, the walls might have been constructed using synthetic stucco as insulation material. While synthetic stucco is very beneficial for improving insulation if it is installed improperly it can become a medium for water to penetrate the walls of a home and cause mold growth inside the walls. While a home inspection can be costly if you are seriously contemplating buying a home, you’ll need to have the home professionally inspected for mold in the insulation.
Legal and Real Estate Agents
In some states homeowners are mandated by law to disclose mold problems, you and your real estate agent should ensure that the owners are aware of this law once it is enforced in your state. This will increase your chances of full disclosure about mold problems in the home. It is also a good idea to ask questions about whether pipes have burst over the years or if there are windows that leak since incidents like these can lead to moisture formation and mold growth.
Mold damage is costly to eliminate and can lead to respiratory problems for you and others who will live in the home. Since, your finances and health are at risk when a house is infested with mold, any sign of mold damage should be treated as a serious issue.
