When one is purchasing a distressed property or a foreclosure, there are often many hidden issues that the trained eye of a professional inspector can reveal. One major issue that I find with foreclosures are environmental issues - primarily fungus. In the state of TN, we legally cannot call it what it really is but have to refer to it as a "mold like substance" or "what appears to be fungal activity of some type" due to legalities. After the suspect material is tested by a certified lab, then and only then can we refer to the suspect material as "MOLD"
Mold, just loves cool dark environments such as basements and crawlspaces. In foreclosed properties, the power is often turned off for several months at a time. With dehumidification turned off, this allows moisture to seep into building materials such as drywall, carpeting, and framing materials. Mold will grow on just about surface and anything material once the conditions are right. In building materials, once the moisture content surpasses 18% it will support fungal growth. Mold is to the plant kingdom what bacteria is to the animal kingdom. Mold will start to decompose your house.
Often, the musty odor associated with these micro-organisms is passed off as "that closed up house odor" and the remedy is opening the door and windows to air the property out. Sometimes this is the case. However; if the physical presence of mold is detected, then depending upon the amount and location, the cost of remediation and build-back can quickly run into the thousands.
In most cases, affected properties can be successfully repaired. As part of the process, I also recommend to have the duct-work professionally cleaned. This is an area often overlooked by consumers. The contaminated environment of the house is circulated through the duct-work, allowing sports to be deposited in the system. Once the system is turned on, billions of spores will begin to circulate throughout your new home.
You can read more on this series by clicking on the link Inspecting Foreclosures - Part IV - Windows - Part II. It will have links to other posts in this series.
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