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Never Ever Buy A Home Without A Proper Mold Test and Inspection.
You do not want to inherit someone else's mold contaminated home. Mold is a ubiquitous organism meaning mold is everywhere. However, the significant difference is whether or not mold has started to grow (amplify) within the home. 80% of homes tested are fine, however, 20% have some type of mold issue ranging from minor to severe.
We have saved homeowners and investors millions of dollars by equipping them with the knowledge to make good investment decisions.
A mold inspection and air sampling should only be done by a properly trained and credentialed environmental hygienist, not a home inspector. A competent evaluation of the test results is as important as the specific data collection standards.
Air sampling for mold should consist of two types of samples obtained at the same to provide a complete representation of the actual conditions at the time of the sampling. One sample would be a spore trap sample that would collect viable (living) and non-viable spores. The second would be a culturable air sample using an N-6 impact sampler for viable spores. The spore trap results can be had in as short as 24 hours. However, a culturable air sample needs to be incubated and typically takes 7 days for results.
These two sample methodologies provide a more complete representation of the actual conditions at the time of the sampling. One without the other, although less expensive, would not be considered a true reflection of the conditions or be considered consistent with industry standards.
Indoor mold levels should be less than outdoors and the mold species should be consistent. Higher indoor levels or species inconsistency can be an indicator of a mold amplification site within the home.
The severity of a mold issue is as important as the type of purchase and who the occupants will be. Small children, elderly individuals and those with weak immune systems are particularly sensitive to mold. Generally a minor to moderate mold problem can be easily and inexpensively taken care of. Please remember, knowing the condition prior to closing a purchase is important.
A home buyer that intends to occupy the home has a little more discretion when purchasing a home with a minor to moderate mold issue since the problem can be mitigated and there would be no further disclosure issues until a possible sale later on. A home with a mold problem that has been corrected should have periodic testing to verify the existing conditions are still within industry standards. |
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