Published: August 02, 2008 09:50 pm         

Mold continuing concern for housing industry

Mold is one of today’s critical housing industry concerns.

Tony Lombardo says as a home inspector he has seen first-hand what mold can do to a home.

“It can literally destroy a home or building,” he said. “In some cases, it can be fatal.”

Ever since toxic mold oozed its way in to the public consciousness several years ago, it’s remained a disturbing real estate topic.

“Mold, especially black mold, is a big environmental issue in the housing industry,” Lombardo said. “I have received lots of calls and inquires from people all over the state that are worried about mold, its dangers and how to get rid of it.”

There are several types of mold, including Aspergillus, Basidiospores, Chaetomiu, Curvularia, Stachybotrys and Torula.

Lombardo said concerns about the health risks of mold have sparked lawsuits, raised insurance rates and lowered the value of some homes.

“One of the best ways for real estate buyers and sellers to protect themselves from mold hysteria is to educate themselves,” he said. “It’s best before you buy or sell real estate to have the home inspected for mold. It’s the best way to avoid a real estate nightmare.”

Lombardo says many home inspections do not include a mold test, but he highly recommends it for both sellers and buyers of homes. He said there are several mold warning signs that should act as red flags and trigger a home inspection.

“The home — or an area in the home — has an earthy or musty odor,” he explained. “If there are stains on areas that come in prolonged or frequent contact with moisture, such as wallboards or wallpaper near a window, walls that contain water pipes or air conditioning vents. If there are indentations in baseboard or trim or swelling or crumbling of plaster or sheetrock. If you have mushroom-like growths on rotten wood on flooring or cabinets’ underside or you have vine-like branches growing from the soil to the home’s foundation, framing or the flooring’s underside. These are all warning signs.”

Lombardo say if any of these problems are present, he advises buyers to consider bringing in an expert in mold to assess the extent of the damage and what can be done to remedy the situation before closing the sale.

“After you purchase the home, it can sometimes be too late to go back on the seller for a remedy,” he said.

Lombardo advises sellers to repair water intrusion or mold damage before placing the property on the market.

“Toxic mold is not just a problem in residential homes,” he said. “It’s a problem in commercial and historical buildings as well.”

Lombardo said he stresses the importance of full disclosure to those selling real estate.

“With some court awards on mold cases in the millions, it’s important to impress upon sellers that failing to mention even a minor water problem could be the start of a legal nightmare if buyers later find mold,” he said.

To protect buyers against purchasing a property with mold problems, Lombardo recommends that they schedule an inspection after it has rained.

“A heavy storm may reveal leakage areas that could give rise to mold,” he said.

Lombardo says homeowners should also recognize that not every mold infestation is the kiss of death to a sale.

“Small infestation can often be cleaned up easily,” he said.

Lombardo’s Home Inspection Service in Bradley offers a certified master inspector and on-site reports. Lombardo’s can test for mold, radon, lead, pests and other potential problems.

“You might not be a real estate seller or buyer, but if you think you have a mold problem, it’s best to have the home inspected,” he said.

Lombardo said homeowners should also note that their insurance policies probably won’t cover the cleanup costs since insurers often exclude mold from standard policies.

“When it comes to mold, most homeowners are on their own,” he said.

Because no national standards exist for acceptable mold levels, there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to how much risk mold actually represents.

“As long as real estate buyers are concerned, you can’t afford to take the issue lightly,” Lombardo said. “A mold test and home inspection is the best way to help homeowners ensure that a mold problem won’t creep up on them.”

To contact Lombardo, call him at 304-877-6111.