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PRE PURCHASE MOLD INSPECTIONS
In this post we will discuss why you should have a pre purchase mold inspection if your are buying a home. However, near the end of this same post we will discuss the limitations of such an inspection.
HOME INSPECTORS AND MOLD
When buying a home, don’t let your enthusiasm to buy prevent you from being cautious. One of the most important parts of buying a home is the home inspection. Don’t assume that the home inspector will exercise due diligence when it comes to examining your new home for mold.
On many home inspections reports nowhere is there a place for mold inspection findings. And if the home inspector does include mold inspections it may not be their specialty. It may only a distraction and a way to make a few extra dollars.
SELLERS AND MOLD
Don’t assume the seller has taken it upon themselves to inspect and professionally remove mold. Yes it is typically the seller’s responsibility to have mold professionally removed, or to disclose it. However, they often do not fix it or disclose it. On the contrary, often a home seller will simple paint over mold. Sellers are likely to mask the problem. In many areas non disclosure by the seller is illegal, and can get them sued. In my personal experience it is often not the seller who discloses mold, but the neighbor. Of course if the neighbor was friends with the seller then they make keep the sellers secrets.
WHEN IT MIGHT BE A TIME TO RUN AWAY AND NOT LOOK BACK
Stachybotrys is a mold that is commonly found to be well hidden during mold inspections.
If there is a potential for hidden mold in a home, then it may be best to walk away. Don’t waste money on pre-purchase mold inspections, or down payments. Even a mold inspection and air testing will very often fail to uncover intentionally hidden mold in a home for sale.
If the seller hid mold behind paint, cabinets, drywall, or baseboards, it may be difficult or impossible for any mold inspector to find it. In fact, even air testing and IR cameras will not always uncover hidden mold problems.
PRE PURCHASE MOLD INSPECTIONS ARE LIMITED
Many people, even inspectors believe that hidden mold will show up in air tests. Don’t count on it because the mold spores will be trapped and not show up in air tests. If you suspect that leaks or mold issues may have occurred, and the evidence is not visible this is a red flag. If a leak occurred but all you see is new paint and new baseboards this is also a red flag. In such cases you should assume your mold inspector and the lab will miss the problem.
Very often a seller may have painted recently, or put in new cabinets or baseboards, or other new building materials. This usually does not mean anything bad. The seller may just be trying to make the house look nice. However, this is sometimes done to hide mold. Also, if you smell mold but do not see water damage or mold it may indicate a hidden problem. Open doors and windows may be an attempt to hide mold odor problem. Air fresheners may also indicate a hidden mold odor problem. Such mold problems may stay very well hidden until you remodel.
The problem is so bad that we do not conduct mold inspections on any property for sale. That is correct we do not do pre-purchase mold inspections.
In the past I used to provide such services. I personally did dozens and dozens of inspections where I have uncovered mold that the seller or the sellers contractor tired to hide. But often it is not possible to find such problems. Finding them after being concealed involves ripping off baseboards or cutting holes in walls. This is usually not allowed in homes for sale.
WHAT ABOUT INNER WALL AIR SAMPLES
In order to take effective inner wall samples the inspector has to know the general area of the exact wall where flooding occurred, or where mold is suspected. If the seller doses not disclose such red flag areas, and instead hires someone to conceal them then the inspector cannot know where to sample inside walls. Sellers will often not disclose where a mold problem occurred of if one occurred. This is typically an illegal act on the part of the seller and can get the seller and sellers realtor in legal trouble.
WHEN IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO HAVE A PRE PURCHASE MOLD INSPECTION DONE ON A HOME FOR SALE
If you are buying a property and water damage and moldy conditions have NOT been altered, removed, remediated, or hidden in any way then a pre-purchase mold inspection may be helpful. Also, if the seller discloses all information honestly and fully, then your inspector will hopefully have the background evidence they need. If there is no new paint, no new baseboards, no new cabinets and countertops, and the property does not have excessive amounts of furnishings, then it may be a candidate for inspection. In such cases a mold inspector can often do an inspection that will uncover much of the properties mold.
At A Accredited Mold Inspection Service we are a leading South Florida mold inspection company for current owners. We do not conduct mold inspections for home buyers or sellers. 
This information if for your benefit but we will not get involved by doing an inspection.