Guest guest Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 Don't become a home repair victim By Don McGonagil August 26, 2005 http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm? section_id=11 & screen=news & news_id=43921 Buying an " as is " property and waiving the right to a thorough property inspection can be very costly. Photo by Don McGonagil. A lady recently called with the concerns about mold in her crawl space. She " My pest control company told me that I had mold in my crawl space, and they offered to fix the problem so that it would never come back for $700, " she said. This lady nearly had to learn the building science industry to understand the variety of solutions and approaches to her mold problem. She really did her homework. She researched which companies provided services, compared the warranties and prices. After inviting a number of self-proclaimed " certified mold experts " to identify the problem(s) and propose solutions, she gathered information and proposals from nearly a half dozen companies ranging from $700 to well over $14,000. The excessive boasting of specific credentials and certifications invites the obvious question — certified by whom? How much training, technical expertise and practical experience were required to gain such a certification? What professional associations, industry standards and industry oversight are involved in the process? The companies included a pest control business, mold remediation companies, fire and water damage restoration companies and an HVAC company (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). All were quite willing to solve her " mold " problems. Subhed: Making it worse The unnamed local HVAC company recently installed a new closed- system air conditioning and furnace unit, and walked away from a system that had damaged ductwork insulation and disconnected distribution lines pumping air conditioning directly into her crawlspace. This cool air contributes to the moisture problems in her vented crawl space. As warmer, more humid air enters the crawl space through the open foundation vents, it cools and moisture condenses in the crawl space, creating conditions for mold to grow. Mold requires moisture, warm air and organic materials to grow. Organic materials may include wood, paper or fabric. Mold problems are moisture problems. Eliminate the moisture conditions and you will reduce your mold concerns. What does this tell you? Could it be that none of these companies knows what the best solution is? Or, given the wide range of solutions and prices, are they incompetent or dishonest? The variety and cost of the proposals does nothing but increase suspicion. Subhed: Dueling dehumidifiers Another caller had had a mold problem for at least the past two summers. She said there was excessive moisture in her vented crawl space. Last summer, her husband installed two dehumidifiers in her crawl space, and they ran nearly all the time. But they still had mold problems. Why? It turns out her crawl space was vented, and the dehumidifiers would have been no more effective than if her husband had placed one in the middle of their front yard and one in the back yard. When people are able to correctly identify and understand the cause of their mold problems (moisture), they are better equipped to address the real causes and consider effective solutions. Subhed: Buying `as is' Yet another caller inquired about inspecting an " as is " property. She said she was getting a " real steal " on a condominium. The caller was committed to buying a condominium that was a foreclosure property, and had been vacant for 12 months. The buyer's Realtor suggested that she didn't need an inspection because it was an " as is " property, indicating that the seller would not make any improvements or corrections to the property as a condition of the sale. Yet this is perhaps the very reason why a buyer should have a comprehensive property inspection. Wouldn't you want to avoid any major concerns or catastrophic financial surprises as the result of discovering serious structural or mechanical problems before you moved in? When Realtors discourage buyers from scheduling a thorough, comprehensive home inspection prior to closing, they are providing bad counsel. When buyers waive their right to a comprehensive home inspection as a condition of the sale, a Realtor would be wise to have them sign a waiver releasing the Realtor from liability or litigation associated with any existing or future structural or mechanical problems related to the house. It's a big darn deal. Caveat emptor. (Let the buyer beware). " Real steals " can be costly. Don McGonagil, 615.582.2296 The Home Inspection Company, www.thehomeinspectioncompany.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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