Reasons Why A Mold Inspection Is Crucial Before Buying A House
Buying a house is no easy decision to make. You need to worry about lots of things.
First, you need to think about how to finance the purchase. Then, you’ll need to look for a house that fits your needs, your lifestyle as well as your budget. One of the most challenging tasks would be to make sure you get the most out of your investment. Because, let’s be honest – buying a house is nowhere cheap.
It won’t even matter if you’re a first-time home buyer or you’ve already experienced buying a house in the past. It is crucial to check the home’s condition before paying for it. One good way to do this is through a professional home inspection.
Licensed home inspectors create a complete report that details the current condition of the house you plan on selling. Through a home inspection, you’ll learn about the plumbing, electric, interior, exterior, air conditioning, and heating conditions of a house. This way, you can identify issues before buying the house and make a fair offer.
Home inspections can also be a deciding factor for home buyers. You have the option to pursue the home purchase or not. Since a house is also an investment, you’d want to buy one that is in excellent shape. Nobody would want to buy a home that has lots of issues, to begin with. This can be a hassle, especially if you plan on moving in asap.
Want another home buying pro tip? Before buying a house, have it inspected for molds.
Why Invest On A Mold Inspection Before Buying A House
No one wants a home with molds lurking in the corners. The sad thing is that a typical home inspection may not be good enough to see if molds are present in a house. Just because you don’t see molds doesn’t mean that they are non-existent in a house. Such spores can be so sneaky that your dream home could be harboring them without the owner knowing it.
Mold Inspection Benefits
Here’s why one needs to consider conducting a mold inspection check on the house you plan on buying.
Molds Can Pose As A Health Risk
Molds can cause specific health issues when a person gets exposed to them for an extended period. The spores, when large enough in numbers, can cause specific symptoms such as the following:
- stuffy nose
- coughing
- wheezing
- colds
- skin irritation
- eye irritation
- throat irritation
No Seller Will Admit A Mold Problem
Without a thorough mold inspection, you will never be sure if the seller intends to hide a mold problem or not. They may not be certain themselves if there is a mold issue is present or one is just starting to brew.
A Mold Problem Is An Expensive Expense
Repairing mold damage can be expensive, especially if the cause is water damage. Think about it. You skip a mold inspection before buying the house you want. You think you saved up some cash by opting for a regular home inspection or no inspection at all.
You move in, only to find out mold remediation is needed after a few months of moving in. Of course, you can’t just leave your mold issue alone.
You’ll pay for the mold repair as well as the water damage to prevent future mold issue. You get to pay double if not more just to fix the damage. That is the kind of problem you’ll want to avoid.
It Can Reveal Evidence Of Undisclosed Water Damage, Leaks or Flooding
A regular home inspection may not be enough to detect a mold issue. The reason being the process involved in a typical home inspection is different from a mold inspection process.
Home inspectors will only check for visible signs of flooding, water leakage or broken pipes. Unless they see molds themselves and didn’t smell a musty odor, they are unlikely to find out about the mold issue.
How To Detect Molds In Your Dream Home?
Watch Out For A Musty Smell And Visible Molds
Molds usually thrive in wet, moist, dark, and humid areas of a house. Even if you don’t find black molds during an open house, you can still identify an existing mold problem with a musty smell.
Check if the house smells different or too good for your nose. The sellers might be hiding something by covering up the house’s real odor.
Ask The Sellers If They Had Any Mold Issue In The Past or Present
You cannot expect sellers to disclose such an issue. Also, some states require the sellers and appraisers if the house has mold issues. However, it is worth the try.
Ask if there is any water damage or flooding problems in the past. If yes, this can be a sign that they experienced a mold issue in the past. It can also be a sign that there are molds in the house they may not be aware of.
Hire A Mold Inspection Service
Professional mold inspectors are individuals with the right knowledge, experience, skills, and license to conduct a mold inspection. They make use of the right tools to check the house for molds. They also follow a mold inspection process that typical home inspectors don’t do.
Takeaway
When house-hunting, you’d want to find a home that will fit your budget and your needs. You’ll want it to be in tip-top shape and mold-free.
Molds can harm you and your family in the long run. You won’t want to risk the health of your loved ones as well as your pocket from having to pay for expensive mold remediation. Make the most out of your investment and get a mold inspection before buying a house.
