Found Mold? What You Need to Know About Remediation

Mold is a problem that can occur in homes when moisture becomes a problem. Selling a home with a mould problem can almost be impossible, or until the mold is remediated. Understanding the cause of mold and what you can do about this problem can help you take care of your home. Below are the basics of mold problems and how they affect homeowners.

What Are the Health Risks of Mold?

Mold can have different effects on health depending on the severity of the mold and the sensitivities . Many people experience breathing problems because of mold, some experience chronic congestion or a cough. Other signs of mold exposure include:

• Trouble remembering things, problems focusing
• Muscle cramps
• Eye sensitivity
• Exhaustion
• Night sweats
• Vertigo
• Shortness of breath
• Thirst and increased urination

In other words, the symptoms of exposure to mold can be so varied that many people don't connect their symptoms to their problem.

Where Can You Find Mold? What Does It Look Like?

Mold grows on walls, floors and ceilings. It can be found growing in corners, carpeting and in bedding. Mold grows in round spots, often in clusters. It can be a variety of colors, including brown, black, gray and yellow.

Most often, homeowners can find mold in rooms where there are moisture problems. Sometimes mold grows in rooms where there is a leak, other times this happens because of a problem like condensation. Homeowners who don't see mold in their home may still be able to smell the problem. Mold takes on a musty smell that is easily recognizable.

How Can You Get Rid of Mold?

Getting rid of mold is a multi-step process. The first step is to stop the problem at its source. If the problem occurs because of a leaky roof, the roof must first be repaired before the mold can be remediated. Once the source of moisture has been identified and repaired, the homeowner can either remediate the mold themselves, or contact a mold remediation professional.

Small patches of mold can be eliminated with bleach. Using a cleaning product designed to eliminate mold is best. Larger patches of mold must be eliminated by a professional. Homeowners who use a professional to remediate their mold should get a paper certifying remediation just in case they decide to sell their house.

How Can You Prevent Mold?

Prevention is much easier than getting rid of mold. There are many things homeowners can do to prevent mold, including:

• Eliminate sources of excess moisture in the home.
• Improve ventilation in the home with a window fan.
• Check regularly for mold.
• Repair broken plumbing and roofing problems as soon as they are identified.

By addressing maintenance problems, homeowners can prevent mold from ever growing in their home.

What Does Mold Do to the Value of Your Home?

Mold can devalue a home if it's not properly remediated. Because it presents a health problem, many homebuyers will be deterred by a home that has a mold problem. If they aren't deterred, many more will ask for a bigger discount than the mold remediation will cost, because most people are attracted to move-in ready homes.

If you're a homeowner who would like to sell your Tower Hill home or property but you have a mold problem, talk to your real estate professional. Your real estate professional can help you disclose the mold issue and get the best price possible for your house. Your real estate professional can also help you disclose a previously remediated mold problem, if it's required.