Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – August 13, 2014
GOT MOLD?
When Alexander Fleming discovered that a certain type of mold produced penicillin, he was understandably thrilled. But for the rest of us, mold spores are often a cause of illness, not a cure. At any given moment, millions of spores are floating through the air, and unless you’re super-sensitive to them, they’re pretty much harmless. But once they land on a damp surface and start growing, that’s when the problems begin.
Fixing mold problems once they become severe can be extremely costly, and because mold often grows behind walls and in other obscure places, it can be difficult to detect on your own. The best way to make sure a property is free of mold is to hire an inspection company to conduct a complete evaluation. In addition to taking samples from the structure itself, an inspector will valuate air quality and measure for the presence of spores.
If you’re buying a home, hiring a mold inspector can help ensure your new dream home is free of potentially harmful spores and determine if mold remediation is needed. And if you’re selling, having an inspection shows your home is healthy and habitable can be a real selling point to many buyers.
Next week, we’ll look at how to hire a mold inspector.
