Tuesday, I was showing a rental home to a prospective tenant. The showing was going well, so we started into that bit of chit-chat that happens when you know folks are seriously considering making this their new home. Tina & Tom then told me that this was the nicest home they had seen for rent in North Phoenix, and that some of what they had seen was really, really bad. In one home, they remarked, there was obvious water damage along a wall, and there were large BLACK stains around it. In Tina & Tom’s estimation, the home had a major mold problem.
As they told the story, Tina & Tom noted that while viewing the rental property, the real estate agent that showed them the property assured them that what they were viewing was NOT mold. Now, I’m not a mold expert. I am completely unable to point to a black spot on the wall and declare with certainty that this is or is not mold. That any real estate agent would do so was frightening for me to hear about. If you are working with a real estate agent that authoritatively tells you that what you are looking at is or is not mold, my advice would be to start your search for a new agent immediately.
Continuing the story, Tina & Tom weren’t completely put off by the apparent existence of mold, as long as the problem could be fixed. Accordingly they asked the landlord to fix it. What they were told once again shocked me. The home was being rented “as is”, as the landlord didn’t have the money to make the repair.
WOW.
Let’s pretend the home does indeed have a mold problem, because I really don’t know. A landlord that won’t fix it, is a landlord you would also want to RUN, not walk away from. From personal experience, I can say a mold problem will likely cost a landlord several thousand dollars to take care of, or perhaps more, depending on where the problem is, and what needs to be replaced or repaired once the mold is removed.
I don’t know all of the health problems concerning mold, because I’m not a mold expert, but I do know mold is something to be avoided and for some people mold can be quite problematic, if not toxic. For mold to exist, there must be a moisture problem. When you see evidence of water outside a sink or tub, this indicates the likelihood of some type of plumbing or roofing problem, which can quickly lead to a mold problem if not addressed. In such cases, the moisture problem needs to be addressed quickly and by an expert trained in mold remediation, so that the occupants of the home (or would be occupants) can live in a safe environment.
If you are looking to rent or buy a home, and are concerned about the existence of mold, you are strongly advised to get a mold inspection. The cost will likely be in the neighborhood of $195, but could save you thousands, if mold is indeed found.
{ 1 comment }
Steve,
You are right to be concerned about the presence of mold. It can be toxic and cause headaches etc. in homeonwers exposed to it, even for short periods of time. It is also true that there is always a reason for the mold, and that there is a water problem not far off.
I bought a house once, with water that pooled on the floor in the lower levels. I felt confident that we could find the source of the water and the resulting mold in between the walls, so we bought it anyway.
Years later, we were surprised to find out the source of the water and leak. It appears, the only other house like mine in the development, (our house was built with the design flipped from theirs), said it was from the conservatory windows. Apparently, they were installed backwards and there was a defective leak. This neighbor told us this at an open house to celebrate their new addition that got rid of the conservatory/greenhouse (like ours). I couldn’t believe it! That is how we found the source of our mold and water problem.
Several thousand dollars later, we have the perfect indoor/outdoor space, but not without a cost, and a battle with mold.
Bleach is the enemy of mold, and will kill it on contact. But, bleach can get into the lungs and is very dangerous to use, people don’t realize this fact. Open windows and air the room whenever bleaching agents are used to fight mold, or call in the pros and pay the big bucks to be safe.
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