Don't Forgo the Inspection When Buying a Home
In this crazy real estate market, many people are forgoing home inspections to guarantee securing the house they want. They may see a little mold during the walk-through but write it off as unimportant. A little mold in your house doesn’t matter if it is not black mold, right? Wrong! Black mold has gotten the reputation of being the “scary mold” that everyone needs to be on the look-out for, but other types of molds can be just as serious of an issue as black mold. According to the Cleveland Clinic “black mold isn’t any more dangerous than any other types of mold.” So, what do you need to know about mold to keep yourself and your family safe?
Mold occurs naturally both inside and outside of our homes. In some instances, mold is very beneficial. Outside mold plays an important role in decomposition and recycling of nutrients. Humans have harnessed the benefit of mold to make medications like penicillin. But it is safe to assume that if you find mold growing in your home it is doing way more harm than good.
How would you know if mold was growing in your home? There are some tell-tale signs that your home has mold. First, you may see mold growing. Mold often looks like fuzzy, slimy, or powdery patches that are black, white, green, or brown. In some situations, these patches will be in easily visible areas, but more likely they will be found in areas that are dark with a high humidity level, like in a sink cabinet. If you are looking for mold in your home make sure to check under sinks, in the bathroom, and under appliances.
You may also be able to detect mold through your sense of smell. Mold creates microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). These compounds create an unpleasant smell that is often described as “musty.” Another way your nose may help you to identify mold is it may become runny. In people who are susceptible to mold allergies, their immune system releases chemicals that cause inflammation in their nose, eyes and lungs when mold spores are present. Even people who do not have these allergies can still experience irritation from mVOCs.
It is often difficult for an untrained person to find the source of a mold issue. It can also be unsafe for an untrained person to remove mold from their home. So, what is the best option for homeowners? Work with a trained and licensed mold removal specialist, like Mold Solutions by Cowleys! Have your home inspected so you know there is no mold. If mold is found, have it remediated. Having your house inspected and remediated by us may save you both time and money in the long run. Today, there is patented technology that allows mold specialists to safely and efficiently remove mold from surfaces without destroying those surfaces. What this means in a practical sense is you may not have to re-drywall a room or add new supports in your attic like you may have had to do in the past. This saves you both time and money and makes your house safer for you and your family.
