Handling mold issues

[Garrett Pearson]

I was talking to an investor that was telling me about a house that he purchased that had mold issues and I don't want to quote him because I may get it wrong but I believed he said that he gave the house a good wash down and put it on the market. I am looking to do my first flip or BRRR and I just realized after hearing that I subconsciously run from anything that have mold beyond the bathroom when viewing potential properties. I see mold as a major and costly problem. I need your help here. Am I overthinking it? What is your experience with mold? How do you deal with mold?

[Marc Winter]

@Ibn Abney is right on the money.  Stinky houses smell like money!!!  

Mold is a naturally occuring fungus and can be treated with a fungicide.  NOTE:  bleach/water combo will only wash away the surface discoloration.  It will not remove the spores.  If you want to do a total gut renovation, have fun, and price that into your offers.

The hazmat suited pros that remove 'toxic mold' for a living MIGHT be overplaying their hand to earn more money.  That's not to say that mold can't hurt you, but it really can depend on what KIND of mold it present.  There are probably THOUSANDS of strains of mold.

All that being said, mold needs moisture, some darkness, some stagnant air, some warmth and a 'host' to grow.  Host meaning sheetrock, wood, carpet, grout, almost any organic-type surface.  Remove the moisture, the host and the stagnant air, remove the spores and that will pretty much get rid of your mold issues.  

Do you have to gut anything that has some mold on it?  Depends.  Use the screwdriver test:  if the tip of the screwdriver easily penetrates the surface of the sheetrock, plaster, wood or wherever you see the mold, remove and replace it.  If you have some mildew in the bathroom, clean it up and install a fan vented to the outside of the property.

(Disclaimer:  I am NOT a certified mold remediation specialist.  I'm just a licensed contractor and Real Estate Broker with years of experience in the real world.  If you have serious concerns with mold, consult a professional.)

Good luck and keep sniffing out the best deals!