Tell inspector about mold or stay quiet?

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Tell inspector about mold or stay quiet?

http://www.inman.com/inmaninf/storyxml/news/54587

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Testing inspector's competency could backfire on buyers

Mortage 101

Barry Stone

Inman News

http://www.mortgage101.com/partner-scripts/inman.asp?

ID=inmannews54587

Dear Barry,

We're about to buy a six-year-old home that originally had a mold

problem. Fortunately, the builder removed all of the affected

materials from the building. If we buy this home, are we required to

disclose the initial mold issue to our home inspector, or should we

wait to see if he notices any evidence of mold? --Jack

Dear Jack,

What possible advantage could there be in withholding information

that would assist your home inspector in evaluating the property you

are buying? The inspector is your hired consultant, there for your

exclusive benefit and to provide you with essential decision-making

data. Any information or other assistance you can provide toward

full evaluation of the property is to your advantage. If the

property has a history of mold, let your inspector know about it.

That way, pertinent moisture conditions and related defects can be

carefully considered and evaluated during the inspection.

Testing your inspector, rather than lending your trust and

assistance, can have costly consequences. Here's a true story that

illustrates the point: The buyers of a home had been told the

property was located within a flood plain, but they never mentioned

this to their home inspector. The inspector observed no evidence of

potential flooding and therefore made no disclosure of it in his

report. The buyers therefore dismissed the issue of possible

flooding and proceeded with the purchase. After the close of escrow,

the first heavy rains caused ground water to flood the interior of

their home. They blamed the home inspector for this " surprise " and

filed a lawsuit for nondisclosure, even though they had withheld

prior knowledge of flood potential on the day of the inspection.

If you alert your home inspector to the history of mold infection,

then potential moisture sources such as plumbing leaks, roof leaks

and ground drainage problems can be given particular attention

during the inspection. By withholding that disclosure, there is

greater likelihood that a significant issue could be missed.

Be aware also that home inspectors do not make determinations

regarding the presence of mold. Since the property has a mold

history, you would be prudent to hire a mold expert to affirm that

there is no residual mold infection in the building.