| House buyers and sellers and their realtors should | | | | 6. Mold testing requires mold laboratory analysis and |
| follow these ten tips to escape mold problems and | | | | mold species identification of the collected mold and |
| mold lawsuits in buying or selling a house, advises | | | | air samples. In building locations with previous floods |
| Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector, and webmaster of | | | | or leaks, the examination should also include fiber |
| Mold Inspector | | | | optics inspection to look inside water-penetrated |
| 1. A house owner should not offer the property for | | | | surfaces for hidden mold infestations. |
| sale, or list it for sale with a Realtor or other real | | | | 7. The home seller should disclose in writing to all |
| estate agent/broker, until after a thorough mold | | | | prospective buyers any previous or present building |
| inspection and mold testing of the house. Use the | | | | water and mold problems, and what the owner has |
| services of a Certified Mold Inspector (USA, Canada, | | | | done, if anything, to correct such problems. These |
| and Asia), or use a do-it-yourself mold inspection | | | | water damage and mold disclosures should be |
| checklist available free at and use do your own mold | | | | attached to the real estate sales contract so that |
| testing kits available from a large hardware, home | | | | the home buyer acknowledges delivery of the |
| improvement, or safety store. | | | | disclosure. |
| 2. If the home owner discovers visible or hidden mold | | | | 8. If the property for sale is a USA home, |
| problems, he should do safe and effective mold | | | | condominium, or co-op apartment, the residence |
| removal and remediation prior to offering the | | | | seller should order ahead of time and provide to all |
| property for sale. Hire a Certified Mold Remediator | | | | prospective buyers the insurance industrys C.L.U.E. |
| (USA, Canada, and Asia), or follow the recommended | | | | (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) |
| steps for safe and effective do-it-yourself mold | | | | Property Report that provides a five-year insurance |
| remediation and mold abatement provided free on | | | | loss history for a given address. |
| the website Re-inspect and re-test the building after | | | | Every U.S.A. homeowner insurance claim inquiry or |
| mold remediation is supposedly complete. | | | | loss report by a homeowner (even including those |
| 3. The home owner should avoid concealing or | | | | that do not result in any loss payment) goes into the |
| covering up mold problems by deceptions such as | | | | C.L.U.E. database. In some states (including California) |
| painting over mold growth; concealing mold growth | | | | it is becoming standard for sellers to provide Realtors |
| behind stored items, furniture, furnishings, and | | | | with a copy of the C.L.U.E. report up front so that |
| decorations; and masking the distinctive smell of mold | | | | there are no unpleasant surprises at closing or |
| growth with air fresheners and deodorizers. The smell | | | | afterwards. |
| of mold is from the digestive gases of the mold | | | | 9. In consideration of the home sellers accurate and |
| eating the building materials. | | | | complete mold disclosure, and the home buyers full |
| 4. The real estate sales contract should include an | | | | and unrestricted opportunity to inspect and test the |
| environmental inspection clause that grants at least a | | | | house, condominium, or co-op apartment thoroughly |
| 14 to 21 day inspection period. The home buyer | | | | and carefully, the sales contract may include a sellers |
| should hire an independent inspector such as a | | | | requirement that the residential property is being sold |
| Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Environmental | | | | as is with no implied or express warranties as to the |
| Hygienist, industrial hygienist, and/or home inspector | | | | physical, mold, and environmental condition of the |
| with mold expertise to inspect and test thoroughly | | | | property. |
| the property for mold and other environmental | | | | 10. Similarly, the home sales contract may also include |
| dangers. | | | | a seller-requested clause that releases the seller, |
| 5. The mold inspector or the home buyer himself | | | | lender, and real estate agent/broker from all mold |
| should do an all-around physical examination of the | | | | liability to the buyer. This release of liability should be |
| building for both visible and hidden signs of water | | | | contingent on the accuracy and completeness of the |
| damage and mold growth. In addition, the inspector | | | | provided details in the sellers written mold disclosure |
| or the home buyer should mold test the air and | | | | and on the buyers full and unrestricted right to do |
| visible mold growths in all rooms, the basement, crawl | | | | mold inspection and mold testing prior to completing |
| space, attic, garage, plus the outward airflow from | | | | the home purchase. |
| each heating/cooling duct register. | | | | |