Today’s post is the second of our series on mold. Land Chasers is always looking for ways to better educate our real estate investors and bringing on Nathan Whittlesey from Midwest Environmental Solutions has already proven to be a great thing for our investors. He’s given us all some great information on numerous well known myths on mold and takes the lesson a step further today by helping to explain why mold testing is necessary.
“I always get annoyed with the car dealership commercials touting huge savings. The truth is you have to spend thousands to just save a few hundred…that kind of ‘savings’ doesn’t excite me. Having said that, let me say that mold testing can actually save you money. This may not excite you, but hear me out.
One of the most common scenarios we face at Midwest Environmental Solutions is a customer calling from our ads in Yellow Book concerned that they may have mold, but they just aren’t sure. It would be easy, as a dishonest business person, to set an appointment with them, go into their house and tell them they have mold that will require mold remediation. Do I have proof that they have mold? No. But in most cases they would trust what I say and spend money for my company to perform mold remediation, which may or may not be necessary.
As a responsible investor/homeowner, you need to demand proof of the existence of mold in your home! If mold is visibly growing then you already have substantial proof (although even if you see visible mold I would still recommend mold testing). However, most people in this industry will tell you that at least 50% of all mold growth in homes is not visible. If you don’t see any mold in your home, but you sense a musty smell, then mold testing is your answer.
Mold testing should always be performed prior to any mold remediation to:
- Determine the extent of mold contamination
- Learn what types of mold are present
- Find how much mold is present
These three things will tell you whether mold remediation is necessary, and if so, to what extent it is needed.
If mold remediation is required, you will absolutely, positively, without a doubt want to perform clearance testing when the remediation is complete. Clearance testing is done to verify that the mold remediation efforts were successful. A good testing company will provide you with a letter stating that the results were satisfactory and that the levels of mold in the home are within acceptable ranges. That piece of paper is invaluable to any investor or homeowner! A clearance letter or certificate will provide proof from laboratory analysis and the stamp of a Certified Industrial Hygienist that your home is safe. Don’t ever take someone’s word that the mold has been properly remediated! Demand written proof.
I told you in the beginning that mold testing can save you money. You can imagine the millions of dollars and headaches that have been spent on unnecessary mold remediation. Don’t waste your money – spend it wisely on things that you can prove are essential. Have your home mold tested.”
Great stuff! It’s simple ideas like this that can save any real estate investor an incredible amount of money and time by doing things the right way first. Nathan is certified through the IAQA, IICRC, and NORMI and is also a senior trainer and director of the NORMI CMR program. To speak with he or one of Midwest Environmental Solutions' technicians, feel free to fill out the contact sheet on their website or even call into the office to ask questions.
Tune back in next week when Nathan takes us through mold testing techniques and qualifications. Maybe then his certifications above won’t seem like Greek to the rest of us.
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