Should I Consider Buying a Home with Mold In South Jersey?

Found your dream house? Already imagining your Sunday morning coffee in the breakfast nook? But wait… there’s mold. What now? Buying a home with mold can be scary idea. BUT mold does not always have to be a deal-breaker.

There is a solution to almost any mold problem as long as you take the right steps and hire the right professionals to help. If you discover a possible mold problem in a for-sale house, don’t give up on it just yet. While unaddressed mold growth can have devastating effects on property value, leave behind serious property damage and cause potential health implications, as long as the seller effectively removes the mold and properly addresses the moisture source, you should be able to build a perfectly safe home with lasting memories in your newly purchased house. As a buyer, you should get the home inspected for mold so you know 100% what you might be getting yourself into. Mold inspections for buyers can provide important information regarding your potential future home.

Buying a Home with Mold: Should I Get A Mold Inspection With Mold Testing?

Buying a home with mold sounds terrifying, but there are steps you can take as a buyer to protect yourself and make sure that you are making the right investment. It is important for buyers and sellers to take mold seriously. Mold is a serious problem that requires proper attention, BUT it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. A professionally trained and certified mold inspector in New Jersey will be able to conduct a complete mold inspection to determine if a mold problem exists in the property, what caused it, how bad it is, and how to effectively remove it. For NJ buyers, a professional mold inspection can be a valuable resource for information regarding your dream house. Getting a mold inspection during a real estate transaction is just practical. If the inspection reveals a problem, the  buyer can present that to the seller and negotiate the best course of action to remove the mold. If the inspection reveals a clean and safe indoor environment, the buyer will have a peace of mind moving forward.

Often times, new home buyers might opt to forego getting a mold inspection before closing. Buyers tend to rely heavily on the general home inspection for discovery of any potential problems with the house. However, it is important for South Jersey buyers to understand that home inspectors are not required to train in mold detection. They are home inspectors, not mold inspectors. While home inspectors have enough knowledge and experience to identify any glaring red flags that might indicate moisture problems or organic growth, a home inspector might miss the more subtle signs of mold that a mold inspector has been specifically trained to identify. Your home inspector is responsible for evaluating the physical structure of the house as well as critical internal systems (i.e.: electrical system, plumbing system, heating and cooling systems, roofing, foundation, basement, attic and so much more). Your home inspector can inadvertently uncover a possible mold issue, but a mold inspector’s evaluation is specially designed to assess for mold and underlying moisture problems. If you are looking to purchase a property in the South Jersey area, you should consider getting a mold inspection in addition to any other inspections of the property.

Hiring The Right Mold Remediation Company In New Jersey

If an elevated mold presence has been confirmed in a New Jersey property for sale, the contaminated spaces need to be properly remediated by a professional mold remediation company in South Jersey. Again, buyers do not need to walk away from the home just because it has mold. Indoor mold growth can be safely and effectively removed by trained mold remediation specialists. It just needs to be done correctly by following the proper cleaning procedures and safety protocols. Mold is considered a bio-contaminate that requires specialized cleanup and removal. It is important to hire the right mold removal company in New Jersey for the job. Poorly executed mold remediations can lead to cross-contamination to previously clean areas, lead to additional property damage and diminish the property’s resale value in the future.

It is important for New Jersey home buyers to do some research and learn what to look for in a mold remediation company. When looking for mold specialist, you need to pay close attention to the mold remediation process. Proper mold remediation completed by a professionally trained company should minimally adhere to these general guidelines:

1. All mold remediation technicians should wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including, but not necessarily limited to respiratory, skin, and eye protection.
2. HEPA-filtered, negative air containment should be constructed to maintain proper environmental controls and prevent cross-contamination.
3. All mold contaminated and non-salvageable building materials or contents will be carefully removed and properly bagged and disposed of.
4. Mold remediation technicians will complete a thorough cleanup which will include (but not limited to): HEPA-vacuuming of surface spores, surface cleaning with an antimicrobial agent, embedded mold root removal and cleanup, re HEPA-vacuuming of all surfaces, and an application of an antimicrobial-infused mold  resistant encapsulate to all cleaned surfaces.

Following a mold remediation, your mold remediation professional will provide you with valuable information regarding prevention and moisture control. Proper mold removal is important, but prevention is equally important. As the buyer, you want to make every effort to maintain the mold-free environment, maintain your property value and protect your family.

Post Mold Remediation Verification Testing NJ

We cannot stress enough the importance of a proper and thorough mold remediation. For buyers looking to negotiate the terms of a mold remediation in a real estate property, you should include post-remediation verification (PRV) testing as a requirement to ensure that the mold remediation was effective. Some mold removal companies in New Jersey will offer PRV testing with each remediation as part of their quality assurance. As the buyer, if you are confident in the company the seller has hired and believes their testing will be sufficient, that is fine. However, if you have any doubts regarding the mold remediation work, you should consider hiring a third part to conduct a clearance mold inspection with PRV testing. The clearance mold inspection and testing looks very similar to the initial mold inspection process. If you had mold testing done prior to remediation, your PRV test samples should be collected from the same general areas to ensure continuity in the findings.