Family Battles Home's Toxic Mold Problem

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Family Battles Home's Toxic Mold Problem

s Now Face Foreclosure

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/money/5436654/detail.html#

POSTED: 1:58 pm CST November 30, 2005

UPDATED: 10:38 pm CST November 30, 2005

Video: Family Battles Home's Toxic Mold Problem

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kris and her family fell in love with a

home at Lake , Kan. It seemed ideal.

KMBC's Jim Flink reported that the seller's disclosure indicated a

few problems, except one -- a plumbing leak. The inspector suggested

minor repairs such as fixing some damaged siding. He also noted

evidence of stains and dampness in the basement, calling the

problems typical.

The 's paid full price -- $74,000.

" We wanted something cheaper to fix up how we wanted. It was

perfect, " said Kris .

Weeks later, during the first rainfall, water began to seep in

through the windows and under the walls.

" It comes in between the walls and then pools up down below, "

said.

Windows fogged up. Within weeks, the entire family began to feel

sick.

" My daughter developed a persistent cough, usually at night, and

this was a normal, healthy 8-year-old, " said. " My husband

caught pneumonia. He had chronic bronchitis. I actually got a sinus

infection. "

The s' doctor told them they were suffering a reaction to

mold. That is when the family called in Glenn Beckingham, an expert

in mold remediation.

" Upon pulling into the driveway, my first thought was, water had

made its way into this home, " Beckingham said.

Kris 's family became sick over mold in their home.

Within minutes of walking inside, Beckingham knew the s had a

problem. There was mold in the walls, the ceilings and in the vents.

Flink: " Is it unusual to have it at that level? "

Beckingham: " Oh, yes. "

Beckingham ordered a second visit and comprehensive tests. When

those scores came back, the numbers were off the charts, Flink

reported.

Flink: " Is this the worst case you've ever seen? "

Beckingham: " I would say it's definitely in the top five. "

Flink reported that the tests showed extremely high levels of three

different kinds of mold, starting at the foot of the family's

staircase and covering nearly half the house. It is consistent with

long-term water problems and not the average indoor mold, he said.

" And you can find it on decaying rotting animals and stuff like

that, " said.

To determine the potential effects, Flink asked one of Kansas City's

leading mold experts to interpret the numbers.

" This is a higher count than I normally see, " said Dr. Jay Portnoy

of Children's Mercy Hospital.

Portnoy said continual exposure to mold can result in everything

from allergic reactions and irritation, which are common, to

infection and toxicity, which are not common.

" I would say that's a sign this is a very unhealthy building, one

that would cause serious respiratory problems, " Portnoy said.

Portnoy's colleague, Dr. , put it this way.

" I have never seen any human being voluntarily stay in a house that

has more than 100,000 spores per cubic meter, " said.

Sick, tired and broke, began to contact the people behind the

sale, demanding answers.

Flink reported that the real estate agents, Earl Strickell and

Dennis Sheets of Century 21 in Lawrence, Kan., wrote back to

saying, " They never saw any problems. "

Sheets wrote, " My responsibility as a listing agent it to notify

potential buyers of any defects known to me. I believe I did this. "

Strickell wrote, " In walking through this home, I did not see any

signs of mold or windows that leaked water and I was in the home

several times. "

Inspector Clyde Yost's pre-inspection agreement read, " The client

may wish to obtain other types of inspections, such as mold, air

quality or environmental inspections. "

Flink said that even though Yost's Web site has extensive mention of

mold problems, Yost made no mention of it.

" First of all, it is an immediate concern, " master inspector Steve

Hodgden said.

Hodgden looked at KMBC's video and at the records filed, including

video of the hallway where mold counts were high.

" That is visual evidence of moisture intrusion that is ongoing, "

Hodgden said. " Someone should have come to that house for this

moisture problem. "

But the inspector's attorney wrote the s claiming the

inspection was only a roof, foundation and mechanical inspection and

did not address the conditions of windows, doors, walks and drives.

The attorney also wrote, " Mr. Yost does not have insurance and any

attempts to find a deep pocket have failed. "

" I find that insulting, " said.

said this is not about greed, but it is about the truth. She

just wants to know where to turn for help.

" I don't have a good answer. I really don't, " Hodgden said.

" The inspector can walk into the house with his eyes closed, write

up an inspection form, and it protects him and not me, " said.

" If it's found that the inspection is inaccurate, there really isn't

much recourse, " Hodgden said.

Flink reported that is because every contract the s signed

protected the other party and not them. As for the seller's

disclosure form, the real estate agent told Flink that there is no

law that says the seller has to disclose anything. He admitted

mistakes were made by somebody, but said it was wrong for the

s to assume anyone was representing them.

As for the home, mold experts are suggesting they tear out the

inside of their home down to the studs. The family is now facing

foreclosure and to date, no one -- including the real estate agent,

inspector, insurance companies or the government -- is willing to

step up and help out.