If you’re in the process of buying a foreclosed piece of real estate, congratulations. There are many reasons to celebrate. However, before you pop open that bottle of bubbly, make sure you do your due diligence first; testing for mold should certainly be among the things to do. In fact, it’s one of the top precautions you should take.
Homes in foreclosure that are vacant, can quickly become vulnerable to mold due to moisture penetration, spore buildup and more. At first glance, it can be difficult to detect. So, test before you invest. Whether you DIY or hire a professional, just make sure you do it because mold can:
- Create new health problems
- Exacerbate existing health problems
- Cost you a lot of money in remediation
- Diminish your investment
- Be tricky to find and detect
DNA-based mold test kits can help
To really understand the risk to health from mold exposure, the real estate community needs a reliable process for determining the extent of the mold problem in foreclosed or vacant homes. Mold test kits that use DNA-based technology are particularly effective.
For example, this free DNA Mold Test Kit tests for mold (s) that healthcare professionals consider toxic. For example, black mold has been linked to the development of early childhood asthma and a mold called Aspergillus fumigatus is a very infectious mold that is capable of causing human disease.
It’s prudent for home buyers, realtors and property managers to properly sample, inspect for, and correct any water and mold problems on the property before purchasing or leasing it in order to protect future residents’ health.
Mold cleaning tips
Once you’ve gotten your results, you can determine what needs to happen next. If the test comes up mold free, you’re in luck. However, if it doesn’t, it’s time to act. There are many things you can do to correct the problem and many of them don’t have to cost a lot of money. This book – the Mold Code Handbook – is filled with mold cleaning tips and simple solutions for common mold problems. It reveals economical ways to repair and correct. It also outlines things you can do to prevent future mold problems down the line that range from keeping your furnace clean to purchasing the perfect dehumidifier.
So, when the time comes, test for mold before you buy. It’s the responsible thing to do – ethically and economically.