Mold: Buying or Selling a House that may need Mold Removal

Your house doesn't have to be flooded to have mold. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC), more than 270 species of mold have been identified in Canadian homes.

Areas that are always or often damp, such as bathrooms, laundry/utility rooms, and basements, are common locations for mold growth in homes. Regularly check areas that have been or are likely to get wet. If you hire a mold inspector to locate a water or mold problem, make sure the professional has experience identifying and locating mold and water problems.

Some molds cause disease or food spoilage, others play an important role in biodegradation or in the production of various foods, beverages, antibiotics and enzymes. If allowed to grow inside your house, mold can be a problem.

The concentration of mold spores in indoor air will vary widely over time. There are different types of mold species and each has its own level of potency, or impact on human health. Different people have different levels of sensitivity to the various types of mold.

Not all mold is obvious. Mold does not need light to grow. So it can also grow inside walls or above ceiling tiles, so it is important to check for the presence of mold anywhere damp or moist, and especially where water damage has occurred.

Mold requires high humidity levels to grow. Some molds require condensation to start growing. To avoid most mold problems, keep at least basements dry. If mold is present, clean the affected area as soon as possible, and identify the source of moisture that allowed the mold to grow in that location.

If you suspect a mold problem that you cannot solve on your own, Health Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recommend that you contact a trained Indoor Air Quality Investigator for advice on building-related aspects of air quality. These investigators can do a visual inspection to identify areas of concern and make recommendations for improving the situation.

Do not hide mold issues 

If you are a homeowner selling your home, the last thing you want is a call from the customer that bought your home that they have mold and their beautiful baby girl now has respiratory issues brought from the mold that you didn’t think was an issue. When you lived in the home it wasn’t a big issue because frankly it was in the corner behind a sofa, and you just painted over the mold, hoping that would be the last of the situation.

Now as you are talking to the new owner of the home, you find out that the mold issue not only reappeared , but has grown inside. You might say to yourself how can they prove that the mold was there before they bought the house? Maybe they created the water moisture intrusion themselves?

Believe it or not through engineering controls and visual inspection, it can be proven that the water issue and then the mold issue were there way before the new homeowner purchased the home.

Home Selling and Mold

Nearly all home buyers hire a professional home inspector to take a close look at their new house before closing. You can speed things along by analyzing the condition of your home and making necessary repairs now, before the house is under contract. Watch out for the following:

Mold & Mildew

Mildew stains and odors scare buyers, especially now that toxic black mold is such a hot topic, and chances are you won't even get an acceptable offer if mold and mildew are present. Even if the mold in your house is the normal variety kill it and fix the source of the problem.

Damp Basements and Crawlspaces

Mildew odors signal that a basement is too moist. Buyers and home inspectors will look closely at the walls and floors for patches of mildew and signs of dampness.

• Cover exposed earth in basements and crawl spaces with plastic to help keep moisture levels down.
• Most foundation "leaks" are a result of poor drainage that funnels water towards the foundation.
• Make sure gutters are clean so that rainwater flows toward downspouts instead of spilling over gutter sides along the foundation.
• Point drainage downspouts away from the house.
• Check water flow through buried drainage lines by flooding them with water from a hose. If water comes back towards you the line is plugged and should be cleared.

If foundation problems do exist, and you cannot make repairs, you might need to lower the price of the house upfront, with the understanding that the price reflects the problem. Another option is to give the buyers an allowance to make repairs after closing.

Roofs and Chimneys

Deteriorated shingles or other roof coverings are one of the first things home buyers and home inspectors notice. If the elements underneath the shingles are moist or rotted, you can bet repairs will be requested.

• Make sure flashing around the base of the chimney is watertight, and that mortar and        bricks are in good condition.
• Inspect the fireplace to make sure it is functioning properly.
• Plumbing Problems
• Fix leaks long before the home inspection takes place. The inspector will check water pressure by turning on multiple faucets and flushing toilets at the same time. The inspector will also run the dishwasher.

The home inspector might check the septic system too.

Do everything you can to get the house in good condition before you attempt to sell it, but don't be discouraged if the inspection report contains a few negative statements. Home inspectors make note of everything they see.

Remember that the home inspection report is not a wish-list for buyers. Read your contract carefully--it dictates which systems should be in good working order at closing. If the roof is older, but doesn't leak, it's in good working condition. The same is true for older appliances.

Home Buying and Mold

I am often asked about home selling and mold and how to make sure you aren’t buying a house with mold that might cause health problems in yourself or family members down the road. We definitely recommend checking a home for mold before buying it. You should also be aware of laws that offer you some protection against buying a home with mold.

If the seller is not aware of a mold problem, and could not be reasonably expected to know, then he doesn’t have to disclose it. Basically, that means that if there is mold growing all over a wall, he has to tell you about it but he does not have to look inside the walls to see if there is mold there. If he knows about mold, though, he must tell you about it. If the seller doesn’t tell you about a mold problem, he may be liable for any mold-related costs you end up incurring.

If you want to put an offer on a home but are concerned about the possibility of mold, you can put a contingency clause in the offer saying the offer is contingent upon the home testing negative for the presence of mold.

How Do You Know if You Are Buying a House with Mold?

When you walk through a house, look for signs of mold or water damage. Check under sinks, behind toilets, in basements and attics and crawl spaces. Look for standing water, water stains on walls or ceilings, visible mold or a musty odor.

If you have your home inspected, ask the inspector to tell you about any signs of mold or water damage he or she notices. Better yet, hire an inspector that is also certified in mold testing.

Also ask the seller. In addition to asking if there has ever been a mold problem in the home, ask about things that are likely to lead to a mold problem, like if the home has ever flooded or if any pipes have ever burst.

To know for sure whether or not there is mold in a home, you need to have the home tested for mold. If you suspect a mold problem, or if the seller tells you there used to be a mold problem but it’s gone now, I recommend having the home tested before you buy it. 

Whether you are thinking of selling or buying a house in Whitby or Brooklin, or other areas within Durham Region, let me be your personal guide on your journey to home ownership. I'd be happy to personally answer questions you may have. Remember, I will be here to assist you every step of the way!

Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca