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Avoid costly repairs because of mold in your rental property by spending $100

By Todd Clark - Retired

Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

March 16, 2009 04:35 AM

If you live in, or investinthe Beaverton, Oregon, area, then you know all about mold.But did youknowthat for $100, as a landlord, you could be saving yourself thousands inrepairslater?

Oneof the biggest reasons mold happens is because of poor ventilation.Mostlandlords can’t figure out why their home doesn’thave a mold problem yet theirrental property does.

I’m going to letyou in on a little secret to why this happens in 3,2,1…

Tenantsdon’t care about your home.They don’t careif they don’t turn on thefan in the bathroom when they take a shower and guess what happens whentheydon’t? You got it, MOLD! This also happens when they dolaundry, so I’m goingto let you in on a $100 secret that can save you thousands and help youavoid amold issue in your rental properties.

I promise this is easy.Whenyou go in to the bathroom, what do you usually see?You see threeswitches.Talk to an electrician and have them wire it and make it two switches,one forthe lights above the mirror and one for the main light. But, here istheimportant part to that. Have them make it so when they turn on eitherlight thefan automatically comes on.

There you have it, forlessthan a $100 your ventilation problems are prettymuch solved and you willlikely have fewer problems with mold. But, Idosuggest you check the ventilation fan from time to time to clean it outandmake sure it is still working or that fix won’t help at all.

Goodluck and happy investing.

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Connie Lou Barnett

Real Living/Home Realty - Owensboro, KY

GRI,CRS,CRB,SRMM,ARA,PRS,SFR,QSC

Great post. We certainly need to educate ourselves on this mold problem. I agree we need to take steps to prevent or correct it before we put our homes on the market.

Mar 16, 2009 04:44 AM

Liz Loadholt

Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC

Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC

Todd --- We have a lot of mold in Charleston, SC --- we have very high humidity. You have a very good suggestion. Thanks.

Mama Liz's Signature

Mar 16, 2009 09:02 AM

Zilkia Olmeda-Martins

RE/MAX North - San Antonio - San Antonio, TX

GRI, Realtor, San Antonio Texas Luxury Homes

Todd, not a bad idea..... San Antonio weather provides mold with its perfect habitat. :-O I will share this tip with my investors.

Mar 16, 2009 09:28 AM

Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459

Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI

Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Todd

A vapor barrier under the floor joists or crawl space somtimtes stops everything. Just went through this.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Mar 16, 2009 09:48 AM

Leslie Stewart

Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR

Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Excellent Idea! Thanks for the thought.

Mar 16, 2009 10:48 AM

Zane Coffin

Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH

(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

I already have done that to a few of my rentals I still have a few more to do....great post Todd...peace zane

Mar 16, 2009 11:50 AM

John Walters

Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA

Licensed in Louisiana

You are correct they don't care. I know they won't disconnect the fan from the switch because that would take energy. Good useful idea thanks.

Mar 16, 2009 12:55 PM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Connie - It is a simple fix in most situations, but so few take the steps to prevent it.

Mama Liz - You get the humidity, we just get the rain and lot of it.

Zilkia - I guess when I think of Texas, I just think heat and no chance of mold.

Tom - Here the mold seems to be more in the bathrooms and the attics.

Mar 16, 2009 01:05 PM

Terry & Bonnie Westbrook

Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

This is a simple fix my only rental has the light over the tub and the fan on one switch and I never thought about it I will in the future thanks.

Mar 16, 2009 01:42 PM

Chris Olsen

Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH

Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Great advice Todd. I see mold all the time in bathrooms.

Mar 17, 2009 01:18 AM

Tere Rottink

CoastalVa Realty Inc - Virginia Beach, VA

Great advice as always. I have a property that has this problem, the tenant does clean the mold, but she will be leaving soon. So I will follow your advice.

Mar 17, 2009 04:25 AM

Leslie - As a fellow Oregonian, I'm sure you have seen this from time to time.

Zane - It is so easy and can save so much money in the long run.

John - Usually it is just laziness that they don't turn on the fan, but there are those that do it just to save the .50 per month.

Terry - Most don't though and that is what creates the problem, They only turn on the light and the bathroom after a shower feels like the Amazon rain forest.

Mar 17, 2009 05:13 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC,

Good tip, except I think the effects of mold are highly overexaggerated...we could not live WITHOUT mold...there is even mold in the fresh air outside...and NO HOME is without mold...!!! Good points and recommendation, however...!!! Thanks, Fran

Mar 17, 2009 06:54 AM

Fran - OK, should I have said "BLACK MOLD" Try living with it, it will kill you!

Mar 17, 2009 12:51 PM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

I think you must be stalking me . . . we were at a rental on Sunday treating the mold in the bathroom and fixing the fan that is wired as you suggested! Once you wire the fan, remove and treat the mold, be sure to use a mold inhibitor additive to the paint too!

Mar 17, 2009 02:24 PM

Margaret - I was hoping you wouldn't have figured it out so quickly, now I have to go find someone else to stalk... DANG IT! --- I do love the idea of the mold inhibitor being added to the paint.

Mar 18, 2009 10:27 AM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Margaret, Thanks for the great information. Very important to keep up with the inspections and maintenance in those rental properties.

May 13, 2018 09:34 PM

Avoid costly repairs because of mold in your rental property by spending $100

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