This week I’ve had 2 different sets of people call, tell me the house they’re buying has mold and that the lender or appraiser has required mold testing prior to proceeding. Their next question is HOW MUCH.
I gave each a price. They immediately said something like:
“Thats way TOO much. We already had 1 guy quote us $75 to test and another quote $65, BUT they couldn’t get to us for a week, so we’re trying to find someone else”.
AFTER 10 minutes of me explaining that for $65 - $75 you’re getting zippo, they politely said thank you and hung up on me.
They are probably looking for some sort of mold identification or level of hazard.
I have heard multiple people state that you only need to worry about the black mold, white looking mold is easier to clean, as long as the test levels are low you are not in danger, blah blah blah.
When asked personally what I think, I state that all mold should be looked at the same, remidiated and eliminated.
Not everyone you encounter is going to know what your limitations or boundaries are.
inform the client of what you can or can not do, assist them is finding the solution to thier problem.
When the Bank knows that a house has a potential mold issue, their protocal is to get the buyer to do testing to shift liability. When you, the buyer, test you know the results. If you buy, it’s on you.
In this situation I always recommend that the buyer go a step further and get a full mold inspection. Knowing the souce of the problem is unltimately more important than mold type for the buyer. This justifies the higher ticket…for me $375 for the mold inspection which includes 2 test, then $75 per additional test.
Many appraisers note mold or suspected mold growth in their appraisals and the banks request confirmation. I had one where an appraiser noted moss growing on an exterior chimney. The seller pressure washed the moss off of the chimney. The bank requested confirmation of the clean up. I did a visual confirmation of no visible growth. $275 please, Thank you.
I will not pull just a few mold samples for no less than $125.00 a piece. There is too much liability to do it for so little money. I have gone behind several mold inspectors (I call them Prolab wonders) that actually cleared mold remediation jobs for about $75.00 a sample and the homeowner is still sick after they cleared the job. The remediator has already got paid, so fat chance getting him to come back and do the job right. Sad but true.
What would/do you do in terms of mold and what are your fees?
I do belive a HI has a roll in “mold” during A general home inspetion to ID suspected mold, inform the client, offer a mold sampling and recommed action by a mold professional. People don’t understand how to proceed and look to us. I offer a mold screening for $150 and a mold swab for $65.
That is why Dan is asked to step him. He will call on his training in mold to determine if he feels the mold is a problem are not. He is hired to give his opinion. He does not have to be an expert, just like most home inspectors, to render an opinion in a condition of a home in a real estate transaction…
If Dan needs any help determining the condition of the environment of the home, that is what his Industrial Hygienist helps him to determine. Your Industrial Hygienist will sit the levels to be concerned about for you. You just follow what he or she tells you, that way your liability is reduced.