Mold Creates Real Issues For Home Sellers

Mold in your home is not something you should take lightly, especially if you are planning on trying to sell. Even buyers interested in a fixer-upper will often steer clear of a house with obvious mold problems, because there are simply too many unknowns.

The problem could be easily resolved, or an issue so big that it is going to be a huge expenditure to fix. In the minds of most buyers, it is easier to just move on to other properties without mold issues. In fact in some buyer's minds if they hear you have mold they may back out even if you agree to remedy the issue at your expense!

The Dangers

Black mold is known to cause problems in certain people, especially the young and the elderly. The byproducts of this mold’s lifecycle can create discomfort in humans, including sneezing, coughing and runny noses. There have yet to be any scientifically proven connections made between the presence of mold in a home and more severe medical conditions, but it still worries homeowners.

This worry is enough to send most buyers elsewhere. Mold without question is not something you want to treat lightly. In a Real Estate transaction being educated about mold can go a long way in both easing a buyers fears as well as your own understanding about moving forward and dealing with it.

The Solution

As a seller, you do have the ability to address a mold problem – especially if you start now, before you put your home on the market. There are mold remediation specialists out there who can help you do a thorough cleanup to remove the majority of the mold in your house. You can get the problem under control, and make your house marketable again.

It is important to keep in mind that it is possible to find mold in just about every home. However, problems like poor ventilation, water infiltration through the roof of the basement, and flood damage can all create an environment where mold grows to unsafe levels. Spending the time and money to make appropriate repairs can do a lot to eliminate any further threat of mold. Make sure that you check around your home before you list it for sale. Check your basement and attic as well as closets in areas where it is difficult to spot. An ounce of prevention goes a long way.

A few months ago during a Real Estate transaction in Hopkinton Massachusetts, there was mold discovered in an unfinished area over the garage at the time of the buyers home inspection. The garage had a finished and unfinshed area. The seller at one time had an in-home office over the finished portion of the garage. The unfinished area was used primarily for storage but the seller did not visit the space that often. Sure enough the buyer was in a major panick about the mold being discovered and wanted it remediated by the seller. The seller agreed to take care of the issue as they did not want to see the sale fall apart.

What is ironic is the mold remediation company said that is was very old and not active mold. His recommendation was to do nothing with it as it would have no harmful given it was not active and also in an unfinished area where it would pose no health risk. If the seller has paid attention to this before putting their home on the market they could have cleaned up the area and saved themselves quite a bit of money in the process!

Start Now

If you suspect you have a mold problem, start addressing it now. It may take time to get it all cleared up, but selling your home in a timely manner and for a fair price should be motivation enough to get started.