The simple answer is if you can see mold or smell it, you don't need to test for it. Testing will only determine the volume of spores and the type. However any level of perceptible mold is bad and the source must be identified. Typically the source of the mold is a water leak and Pacific Crest Inspections will help you determine the source of this leak. Call us for an appointment 1-866-618-7764 or 360-588-9956

Mold in a home is a major hurdle to getting it sold. If you are the seller's agent, you must ask if there has been any water damage in the home. Then you must inform the seller of all the problems associated with water damage: that water damage must be disclosed, that the buyer could find mold on inspection, or that the home may be stigmatized by some insurers who may insist on a mold inspection before insuring the home for the new buyer. 

Do you call for a mold test right away? A better course of action would be to call for a home inspection even if you are the seller. Most inspectors have experience finding water damage and they will be able to determine the extend of the damage. Home Inspectors are not in the repair or mitigation business and can do an unbiased evaluation.  If the damage is extensive most will recommend further evaluation by reputable experts who are known in the area.  For the seller, the home inspection report and contractor repair documentation can be added to the disclosure as evidence that the problem has been correct.

Don't let your clients be scared by overblown media reports or misinformation. Companies that claim to do mold testing will normally find mold because mold naturally occurs in our environment, the Pacific NW. Water is the most common problem that people have in their homes. It shows up in a variety of ways. Sometimes its just a smell, the basement seems ‘dank’ and ‘musty’. Sometimes it’s a mold and mildew showing up in your storage area. Sometimes its fungus and wood decay in your crawl space. And sometimes its settlement and structural deterioration of the foundation system of the house. If water can do that much damage, we feel it’s important to make sure that we understand all the nuances of water infiltration. 

Household mold, in normal amounts, is generally not a serious problem for the health of most individuals, but can effect the health of the young and old or those with respiratory problems. One question that will need to be answered is whether the condition is a health hazard to the  occupants and only a doctor will be able to determine that.

Right now, almost anyone can hang out a shingle and call himself a mold consultant. Some states have legislation pending that will license mold inspectors however Washington is not one of them. Ironically mold inspector or remediation companies have few guidelines as to what constitutes a proper mold inspection or cleanup, which may encourage less than ethical contractor to offer, “mold services.”

In most comprehensive home inspection, we will be looking for the conditions that lead to mold. This will help you determine whether the conditions are appropriate to go to the next level of mold inspection, which would be by a mold mitigation company or Certified Industrial Hygienist. These inspections typical should run about $600 to $3000. In this case by leading with a comprehensive inspection you may be able to save your clients time and money in evaluating the condition of the property.

The truth about mold testing

A good article on selecting a qualified mold test consultant can be found here

Mold Inspections - a home inspectors best friend

NBC Expose on Mold Mitigation companies

Would you like to know more about Mold? Goto the Pacific Crest Inspection's Mold page

Pacific Crest Inspections is a locally owned and certified home inspection company providing home inspections, commercial inspection and pest inspections in the Mt. Vernon, Wa. area. Pacific Crest inspections is licensed by Washington State and carries the highest certification “Certified Real Estate Inspection” offered by the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)  Pacific Crest Inspections conducts their Washington State home inspections according to the National Association of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics. These professional home inspection standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a Mt. Vernon, Washington home inspection. Our home inspection standards are available for viewing under the "Consumer Information" section of our website or ask your  Washington home inspector for a copy of the NAHI Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics prior to your Mt. Vernon home inspection.