Hello and welcome to my cleaning blog. Cleaning can bring you a lot of joy. Without it, our homes and businesses would literally be covered in old food, dust, and garbage. My name is Penny, and in this blog, I'm going to cover cleaning techniques and tips for staying organized. Whether you are trying to wash a stain out of a shirt or keep on top of the vacuuming, I hope these posts help. I also plan to write about hiring professional cleaners for your home, office, or even your industrial facility. My hope is that this blog brings you as much joy as a clean space.
The Joy of Cleaning
Mold Remediation And Your New House
Catherine Edwards
Mold is often considered a four-letter word in real estate. While it technically does have four letters, it shouldn't be something that new homeowners necessarily freak out about. Here's what you need to know.
Disclosure
A home's seller must disclose any current or previously known mold problems by law. Ask your real estate agent to see the Property Disclosure Statement and read it over thoroughly. While this is a good first step, it does not end your due diligence in terms of mold.
Inspection
When you have your home inspection, the inspector will look for signs of mold throughout the inspection. While they are not an expert, the inspector will point out any mold that they come in contact with during their time in the house and note the location on their report. If efforts were taken to hide the mold with fresh paint, the inspector may not be able to tell, however.
Do-It-Yourself
Mold clean-up can be a do-it-yourself project in some circumstances. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that any area under 10 square feet can be cleaned up by the average person. This could include cleaning the area thoroughly with bleach to kill any mold spores as well as removing any affected building material and replacing it. While you could ask the sellers to do the work, most homeowners feel more comfortable cleaning the mold themselves to ensure that the job is done well.
Remediation
When the area is larger than 10 square feet or there are multiple small areas throughout the home, it is time to call in the experts. Removal of mold by experts is called mold remediation and can be costly. When excessive mold is discovered during the home inspection, it is fully within the buyer's rights to request, in writing, that the seller pays for a mold remediation service. While the seller could refuse and walk away from the transaction, it is in their benefit to have the mold remediated. The disclosure will need to be updated to state that mold was found in the house and all future, potential buyers will see that information.
Prevention
In addition to removing the mold and cleaning any adjacent surfaces, the source of the water damage must be found and repaired to prevent any further mold growth. Unless there is extensive structural damage that is causing the leak, most mold remediation experts can handle this task as well.
While mold can strike fear in the hearts of many home buyers, it does not need to be scary. Partnering with the right professionals, from an experienced real estate agent, a home inspector, and a mold remediation professional will help you make the right decisions.
Reach out to a mold remediation service professional for more information.
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