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Ten Steps To Handle
Mold Issues
When Buying or Selling Your First Home
”First time home buyers and sellers and their real estate agents/brokers can
take these ten steps to avoid mold issues and mold litigation when buying or
selling their first home,” according to Phillip Fry, Certified Mold
Inspector, and webmaster of Moldinspector.com.
1. A home owner should not even offer the property for sale, or list it for
sale with a Realtor® or other real estate agent/broker, until after a
thorough mold inspection and mold testing of the home. Use the services of a
Certified Mold Inspector (USA and Canada), or use a do-it-yourself mold
inspection checklist available free at Moldinspection.com, and
use do-it-yourself mold test kits available from a
large hardware, home improvement, or safety store.
2. If the home owner discovers visible or hidden mold problems, he should
do safe and effective mold removal and remediation prior to offering the
property for sale. Hire a Certified Mold Remediator (USA and Canada), or
follow the recommended steps for safe and effective do-it-yourself mold
remediation and mold abatement provided free on the website
Moldinspector.com. Re-inspect and re-test the building after mold
remediation is supposedly complete.
3. The home owner should avoid concealing or covering up mold problems by
deceptions such as painting over mold growth; concealing mold growth behind
stored items, furniture, furnishings, and decorations; and masking the
distinctive smell of mold growth with air fresheners and deodorizers. The
smell of mold is from the digestive gases of the mold eating the building
materials.
4. The real estate sales contract should include an environmental
inspection clause that grants at least a 14 to 21 day inspection period. The
home buyer should hire an independent inspector such as a Certified Mold
Inspector, Certified Environmental Hygienist, industrial hygienist, and/or
home inspector with mold expertise to inspect and test thoroughly the
property for mold and other environmental dangers.
5. The mold inspector or the home buyer himself should do an all-around
physical examination of the building for both visible and hidden signs of
water damage and mold growth. In addition, the inspector or the home buyer
should mold test the air and visible mold growths in all rooms, the
basement, crawl space, attic, garage, plus the outward airflow from each
heating/cooling duct register.
6. Mold testing requires mold laboratory analysis and mold species
identification of the collected mold and air samples. In building locations
with previous floods or leaks, the examination should also include fiber
optics inspection to look inside water-penetrated surfaces for hidden mold
infestations.
7. The home seller should disclose in writing to all prospective buyers any
previous or present building water and mold problems, and what the owner has
done, if anything, to correct such problems. These water damage and mold
disclosures should be attached to the real estate sales contract so that the
home buyer acknowledges delivery of the disclosure.
8. If the property for sale is a USA home, condominium, or co-op apartment,
the residence seller should order ahead of time and provide to all
prospective buyers the insurance industry’s C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss
Underwriting Exchange) Property Report that provides a five-year insurance
loss history for a given address.
Every U.S.A. homeowner insurance claim inquiry or loss report by a
homeowner (even including those that do not result in any loss payment) goes
into the C.L.U.E. database. In some states (including California) it is
becoming standard for sellers to provide Realtors® with a copy of the
C.L.U.E. report up front so that there are no unpleasant surprises at
closing or afterwards.
9. In consideration of the home seller’s accurate and complete mold
disclosure, and the home buyer’s full and unrestricted opportunity to
inspect and test the house, condominium, or co-op apartment thoroughly and
carefully, the sales contract may include a seller’s requirement that the
residential property is being sold “as is” with no implied or express
warranties as to the physical, mold, and environmental condition of the
property.
10. Similarly, the home sales contract may also include a seller-requested
clause that releases the seller, lender, and real estate agent/broker from
all mold liability to the buyer. This release of liability should be
contingent on the accuracy and completeness of the provided details in the
seller’s written mold disclosure and on the buyer’s full and unrestricted
right to do mold inspection and mold testing prior to completing the home
purchase.
For more mold inspection, mold testing, and mold remediation information
and tips, please visit:
http://www.certifiedmoldinspectors.com
http://www.moldinspection.com
http://www.moldinspector.com/mold_removal.htm
http://www.bleach-mold-myth.com
http://www.moldmart.net
http://www.mold.ph |
