What you need to know about buying a house with mold
Mold is common in homes, particularly in areas where there is a lot of moisture, such as near leaky pipes or roofs. Mold tends to grow on fibrous surfaces like wallpaper, insulation, carpet, and upholstery. Mold exposure can trigger health issues in those who are allergic or who have respiratory conditions like asthma.
But how do you know if your house has significant amounts of mold and what should you do if you find it? Here’s my advice as a real estate agent who has worked with a number of old houses.
How do you find out if you have your house has mold?
If you’re moving into a new house, make sure that a mold inspection is part of your process when finalizing your home purchase. Even if you waive your home inspection clause, you will likely want a mold inspector to come in and let you know if you have to mitigate any dangerous mold before moving in.
A home inspector, or dedicated mold inspector, will check for the presence of mold spores, as well as check the air quality in your house. Through the inspection, you’ll learn if the mold makes your home unlivable or can be removed simply. You may also learn about the presence of mold through a disclaimer from your home appraiser or realtor.
If you’ve been in your home for a while, or you forgo a mold inspection, you will likely notice mold by seeing or smelling its musty or earthy smell. The most likely places for mold to appear are the less frequented parts of the house like attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Mold can also grow and fester in your drywall. These places are where leaks or water damage may go unnoticed for a while.
What kind of mold is in a house?
According to the CDC, there are three types of molds that are most common in homes:
Aspergillus is a powdery white, gray, or green mold with dark spots
Cladosporium is black, brown, or green
Penicillium is a fuzzy green, blue, or yellow
There are some other, less common types too, the most well-known being Stachybotrys chartarum, or “black mold.” Black mold is rare because it needs constant heavy moisture for growth. However, this is an incredibly toxic mold and should be removed before moving into a home.
Understanding the type of mold in your house is important as each type has mycotoxins that can cause different kinds of health problems. For example, aspergillus is so common that it rarely causes adverse health effects. However, penicillium can cause sinus infections, lung inflammation, rashes and allergic reactions.
Your home inspector will perform mold testing in order to determine the type of mold and can advise on how to best remediate.
In addition to these three common types, there are a number of other molds to familiarize yourself with to keep the residents in your home safe.
What can you do if your house has mold?
Mold in your home should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading and posing health risks to you and your family.
The EPA says that if a mold area is less than 10 square feet, it can be cleaned without the help of a mold remediation company.
Here’s how home buyers can perform mold removal themselves:
For protection during cleanup be sure to wear gloves, safety goggles, and an N95 respirator to avoid breathing in spores. Open nearby windows for better quality indoor air.
Locate the source of water feeding mold growth — a leaky pipe perhaps — and fix the issue. You may need to bring in HVAC or plumbing solutions to properly mitigate the source of the mold.
Use a brush to scrub mold off affected areas with commercial cleaning products, soap and water, or distilled bleach (8oz of bleach per gallon of water).
Porous materials like carpets or furniture may need to be discarded. If you wish to save high value items damaged by mold, you should consult a restoration specialist.
Visible mold that has been removed may still leave a stain. Do not repaint any cleaned surfaces until they have fully dried.
Hire a mold remediation specialist in extreme cases, such as extensive water damage or black mold.
Who pays for mold remediation?
If you are selling a house with mold problems, Massachusetts law does not require you to disclose this to potential buyers, but your real estate broker is required to disclose this information because they must adhere to consumer protection laws.
If homeowners don’t fix mold issues before selling, they can be discovered during a home inspection report which might scare people away, so it’s in your best interest to handle the issue and sell the house after mold remediation.
Mold problems can affect property values and serious issues can be seriously expensive to remediate - potentially tens of thousands of dollars, especially if it’s paired with flood damage. This is why prevention is so important for sellers.
If you’re thinking of buying a new home with known mold problems, homeowner’s insurance companies will consider it a pre-existing condition so you’ll be fully on the hook for any mold remediation costs. If you know a home has a history of mold infestation, be sure to check if the conditions and infrastructure have changed to fix the problem - just because the mold has been cleared doesn’t mean it won’t come back if the house still has moisture problems.
Be sure to check for faults in ventilation systems, sealing, insulation, and plumbing before assuming previous mold issues have been resolved.
How do you prevent mold in your house?
The key to mold prevention is moisture control . Here are some things you can do to keep mold in check:
Keep indoor humidity low with proper ventilation, such as running the bathroom fan when showering
Make sure moisture-producing appliances like dryers are properly ventilated outside
Use air conditioners and/or dehumidifiers
Clean and repair gutters regularly
Fix leaks and clean spills and condensation quickly
Should you buy a house with a mold problem?
A mold problem isn’t a death sentence. However, you want to be fully educated on what type of mold is in your house, what it will take to remediate it, and the associated costs. If you’re comfortable with these risks and the necessary processes, fixing your home’s mold problem shouldn’t be an issue.
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