Mold in any home is a significant issue. It is a health risk, a liability, and often a hidden danger. Mold develops when a given area is damp or wet, even through the drying process. When mold develops it is difficult, but not impossible to get rid of. The first step however is detection, and that is not the easiest thing. Should you be selling a home, this could be one of the hardest points to address, unless you hire an inspector.

The mold liability issue has become so vast that many of the insurance agencies are dismissing the claims, having suite filed against them, or facing the choice of rewriting what policies they do have to exclude mold. If you are selling a home, you don’t want to risk it with something so easily address as mold, so you need to identify that it is there.

Some of the most obvious signs are black, green, or purple blotches on walls, carpet or ceilings. These can be where you are able to easily see them, or it can be behind the walls, ceiling panels, or under the rugs. Smell is often another indicator of mold. Should the basement, or home smell musty chances are there is some hidden mold some where in the area. These would be the red flags to indicate you need to hire a professional inspector to fully ascertain the problem, and give you situation specific direction on the resolution.

Prevention is always better than resolution. Keep your home, basement and attic ventilated, and if at all possible, full of sunlight. By having an area that is prepared to dry quickly and evenly mold cannot exist. Although you can also keep your humidity levels regulated to minimal needed for health, and vent your appliances to the outside appropriately, this is only one part of the process in prevention. Add that together with a strong sunlight basis, ventilation at all times (including when you are cleaning) and you will be able to prevent mold in your home. Sellers will not buy mold problems, so you need to be proactive from the start.

Stay safe!

Joe

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