All Forum Posts by: Bobby Kalchev

@Chris Seveney

With all due respect, independent mold testing costs much less than a thousand dollars in 99% of the cases. Maybe you need to shop around a bit for a better price.

Unlike asbestos, mold is really dangerous. And people freak out about it because about 60% of the people in US are negatively affected by it, to a different degree of course. And this number is growing. What has a big aura are fads like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and never going to be used man caves, backyard porches and swimming pools.

That's why there are independent mold inspectors, to guarantee you a professional mold inspection without a conflict of interest. Unfortunately, few homebuyers are willing to pay 0.05% from the property value for such inspection and stories like this one are common. The home inspector IS NOT a mold professional. And btw, Penicillium mold can be dangerous because it is allergenic and can produce mycotoxins.

@Account Closed I disagree. It is always better to spend few hundred on an professional mold inspection so you know exactly what you are dealing with. Of course this should be an independent mold inspector, not a mold remediation contractor (or untrained or unexperienced home inspector knowing nothing about mold) in order to avoid conflict of interest. My experience shows that such an inspection can save thousands of dollars from mold remediation costs almost every time. Professional mold remediation can easily cost $10,000, but if the inspector tells the investor what is the problem and how to fix it, usually (in 95% of the cases) it can be fixed by any handyman much cheaper. Mold is a very tricky thing, you can have multiple mold sources, and mold tends to reappear if not addressed properly. Also, the mold related litigation is growing very fast those days, more and more people (more than 60% of US population) is negatively affected by mold to a certain degree and they are ready to go to court.

@Mark Koontz I strongly recommend to have an independent mold inspection for any of your rental properties before letting new tenants in and share the report in advance. Especially if there is no mold issue. In this way when the renter starts to complain about mold and refusing to pay rent or threatens lawsuit  several months down the road you can remind him of the mold inspection report showing no mold when they got in the property. If the report shows mold, keep it for yourself and follow the recommendations of the mold inspector. When the mold is removed, order a mold clearance report, and that's the report you want to show to the tenants. 

@Hersh Rai when you hire a mold inspector make sure they are an independent one. Do not hire a mold remediation contractor for the inspection because you will not get a real inspection but a sales pitch for mold remediation.

@Caleb Taylor that's a good choice. Always hire an independent mold inspector so you can know the truth and take an informed decision. Do not hire a mold remediation contractor to do the inspection, there is a conflict of interest and nine out of ten times they will try to convince you that you need their services. Also, be careful if you hire a home inspector, most of them have a very superficial knowledge about mold.

Basement waterproofing can cost few thousand dollars for the french drain, the sump pump installation and the drainage membrane.

Definitely. You will need a mold inspection and an inspection from basement waterproofing company. I hope the building is structuraly sound. Based on these inspections you can decide should any repairs be made.

@Mitch Messer I totally agree with you. Very well said. I am an independent mold inspector and I always explain to my clients the difference between a FREE solicitation from a contractor and a paid professional unbiased mold inspection. In 9 out of 10 cases the clients go for free cheese from the mouse trap. 

@Sam Abe I do not know if it is legally binding to address the mold issue because I live in another state on the east coast, but my advise is not to neglect the mold issue. You can hire an independent mold inspector to inspect the property and do the necessary testing. Please request from them a written mold inspection report and the mold testing lab report from a certified lab. These reports may save you a lot of money from the mold remediation, if such is necessary, and to protect you in case of a future court case. The mold is a healthcare issue and you need to prove that you have been concerned about your tenants' health, especially during the current pandemic. Good luck!