Mold Testing $450+ or Only Inspection?

[Allison Littman]

Hi everyone, finally in the middle of my first deal, SFH to use as a rental in Nashville, TN (hooray!)

In addition to the general home inspection, would you recommend also paying $450+ for mold testing? Or would you wait to see if the home inspection results indicate there may be mold issues to warrant this additional testing? Home was built in 1949. No musty water smells or visible mold to indicate there are mold problems; however, because this will be a rental, I do want to make sure it is healthy for inhabitants. Thanks in advance.

[Daniel Hyman]

@Allison Littman

My inspector found questionable mold in the attic. I then hired a certified mold inspector to come out. She took samples and had it sent to a lab for results. It was positive, so I ended up paying to have it remediation.  The mold inspector was about $200. Had her results come out negative, I would have been fine with her certified mold inspection report and not gone any further. My advice would be to approach it conservatively and wait to see what the general inspector comes up with. 

[Account Closed]

No.

[Daniel Hyman]

@Allison Littman

My inspector found questionable mold in the attic. I then hired a certified mold inspector to come out. She took samples and had it sent to a lab for results. It was positive, so I ended up paying to have it remediation.  The mold inspector was about $200. Had her results come out negative, I would have been fine with her certified mold inspection report and not gone any further. My advice would be to approach it conservatively and wait to see what the general inspector comes up with. 

[Kelly R.]

A visual inspection by the home inspector will usually find signs of mold but nothing is a given. As Daniel said, I would give the home inspector a chance to do his inspection first and see what he comes up with.  

[Allison Littman]

Thanks everyone, exactly what I was thinking! Much appreciated.