Should You Get a Mold Inspection When Buying a House in San Diego
Buying a home is an exciting and major milestone in your life, and if you’re buying a house in San Diego, then it surely doubles the excitement. This amazing city has a lot to offer, particularly a perfect combination of natural beauty, excellent climate, and high-quality life. But there is one significant step that you must ensure “before making a deal. In fact, it should be a part of due diligence, which is a mold inspection. Homebuyers often overlook this important step, but you should always remember that mold is a hazard, and there is a high chance it might lurk in your new home. San Diego’s coastal climate and environmental conditions could be at blame here. The city experiences mild, wet winters and relatively humid conditions that provide a mold-friendly environment.
In this blog, we will discuss why you should get a mold inspection when buying a house and when is the best time to walk away from a house with mold issues.
Why Should You Get A Mold Inspection When Buying A House?
Mold inspections are not required when buying a home in San Diego, but is it a smart move? Definitely yes! It is one of the ways by which you can save thousands of dollars and a lot of stress. Just a heads up: treating a mold issue in San Diego can range from a few hundred dollars for minor issues to over $10,000 for extensive remediation and repairs.
In San Diego, homeowners are not required to remove any mold problems or fix them before selling their house. But, yes, they’re required to disclose any known issues. (The main focus is on the word “known”). Most of the time, when the sellers list their properties, they rarely go out of the way to look for mold. So, if they’re unaware of any issues in their house, there’s nothing to be told to you. Does this make sense? Yes? This is exactly why you need a mold inspection before signing that dotted line.
When you schedule a mold inspection before buying the house, a licensed mold professional must carry out a comprehensive inspection. They will look for any possible areas that might have mold infestations and conditions that might lead to mold in the near future. This means it will be a potential headache for you.
As a diligent home buyer, you might already be getting a home inspection. During a general home inspection, the inspector will look for obvious defects. However, there’s obviously a difference between a home and a mold inspection. So, don’t expect your home inspector to identify mold in your house, but they will surely identify defects that might be a result of mold infestation. In fact, a home inspector will also mention signs of potential mold issues or water damage IF they come across it. However, don’t expect them to go out of their way to look for it.
When Should You Walk Away from a House with Mold?
Mold inspection, at times, doesn’t feel like a deal-breaker, but there are different instances when you need to walk away from the deal. After all, you don’t want to invest in a property just because of its “aesthetics” and “appeal.” In fact, both of these can fade over time, especially if your potential house is mold-infested. Following are some of the instances when it is best for you to away and abandon a mold-infested property:
Extensive Mold Growth
If the mold issue is extensive, it indicates deep-seated issues if it is infiltrating critical structural components or covering large areas of the property. These issues might be too costly or challenging to remediate effectively.
Toxic Mold Presence
Certain types of mold, like Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold, produce mycotoxins that could be hazardous to your health. If a professional mold inspection detects toxic mold, then it is better to avoid investing your money in that property.
Recurring Mold Problems
The property you’re about to own might have a history of recurring mold issues, so we can’t blame San Diego’s climate here only. However, it might suggest that the property might have underlying moisture or ventilation problems that might be difficult to resolve completely. This is why it is better to avoid such properties, as this will help you in preventing future mold-related complications.
Is Mold Testing Enough to Detect Mold?
If you have already scheduled a home inspection for your prospective property, then you might notice it has an add-on of “mold testing” or “air sampling.” If you see this then you don’t have to relax just yet as mold testing is not the same as mold inspection.
Mold testing and air sampling require the home inspector to take air samples or surface samples and send them to the laboratory for further analysis. If you think this will be enough to determine the mold presence in the house you’re about to buy, then you’re mistaken. As you already know, mold growth often occurs in hidden places, and it is difficult to detect. Taking an air sample in the kitchen won’t be enough to reveal potential mold growth in the walls.
During a mold inspection, the inspector can use air sampling or mold testing whenever it is needed. Basically, it could be a part of the mold inspection. However, only mold testing or air sampling during home inspection is not enough.
Conclusion
Considering San Diego’s conducive environmental conditions for mold growth and also its humid coastal climate and occasional heavy rains, it is better to get a professional mold inspection when buying a house. This is one of the proactive steps you can take to have things in your favor and uncover hidden mold issues. These issues might not be immediately visible, but yes, they could pose significant health issues. In fact, these can also lead to costly remediation down the line. With a thorough mold inspection, you get the assurance and peace of mind that the potential issues are identified and addressed before finalizing the purchase.
Ensure your new property is safe and sound with Elite Commercial Inspections! Our comprehensive mold inspections in San Diego uncover hidden issues that could affect your investment and health. Don’t take chances—schedule your professional mold inspection today and buy with confidence. Contact Elite Commercial Inspections now for peace of mind and a healthier future.
