Mold continuing concern for housing industry

[Guest guest]

Published: August 02, 2008

Mold continuing concern for housing industry

Beckley Register-Herald - Beckley,WV*

By Fred Pace

Register-Herald reporter

Mold is one of today's critical housing industry concerns.

Tony Lombardo says as a home inspector he has seen first-hand what

mold can do to a home.

" It can literally destroy a home or building, " he said. " In some

cases, it can be fatal. "

Ever since toxic mold oozed its way in to the public consciousness

several years ago, it's remained a disturbing real estate topic.

" Mold, especially black mold, is a big environmental issue in the

housing industry, " Lombardo said. " I have received lots of calls and

inquires from people all over the state that are worried about mold,

its dangers and how to get rid of it. "

There are several types of mold, including Aspergillus,

Basidiospores, Chaetomiu, Curvularia, Stachybotrys and Torula.

Lombardo said concerns about the health risks of mold have sparked

lawsuits, raised insurance rates and lowered the value of some homes.

" One of the best ways for real estate buyers and sellers to protect

themselves from mold hysteria is to educate themselves, " he

said. " It's best before you buy or sell real estate to have the home

inspected for mold. It's the best way to avoid a real estate

nightmare. "

Lombardo says many home inspections do not include a mold test, but

he highly recommends it for both sellers and buyers of homes. He

said there are several mold warning signs that should act as red

flags and trigger a home inspection.

" The home — or an area in the home — has an earthy or musty odor, "

he explained. " If there are stains on areas that come in prolonged

or frequent contact with moisture, such as wallboards or wallpaper

near a window, walls that contain water pipes or air conditioning

vents. If there are indentations in baseboard or trim or swelling or

crumbling of plaster or sheetrock. If you have mushroom-like growths

on rotten wood on flooring or cabinets' underside or you have vine-

like branches growing from the soil to the home's foundation,

framing or the flooring's underside. These are all warning signs. "

Lombardo say if any of these problems are present, he advises buyers

to consider bringing in an expert in mold to assess the extent of

the damage and what can be done to remedy the situation before

closing the sale.

" After you purchase the home, it can sometimes be too late to go

back on the seller for a remedy, " he said.

Lombardo advises sellers to repair water intrusion or mold damage

before placing the property on the market.

" Toxic mold is not just a problem in residential homes, " he

said. " It's a problem in commercial and historical buildings as

well. "

Lombardo said he stresses the importance of full disclosure to those

selling real estate.

" With some court awards on mold cases in the millions, it's

important to impress upon sellers that failing to mention even a

minor water problem could be the start of a legal nightmare if

buyers later find mold, " he said.

To protect buyers against purchasing a property with mold problems,

Lombardo recommends that they schedule an inspection after it has

rained.

" A heavy storm may reveal leakage areas that could give rise to

mold, " he said.

Lombardo says homeowners should also recognize that not every mold

infestation is the kiss of death to a sale.

" Small infestation can often be cleaned up easily, " he said.

Lombardo's Home Inspection Service in Bradley offers a certified

master inspector and on-site reports. Lombardo's can test for mold,

radon, lead, pests and other potential problems.

" You might not be a real estate seller or buyer, but if you think

you have a mold problem, it's best to have the home inspected, " he

said.

Lombardo said homeowners should also note that their insurance

policies probably won't cover the cleanup costs since insurers often

exclude mold from standard policies.

" When it comes to mold, most homeowners are on their own, " he said.

Because no national standards exist for acceptable mold levels,

there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to how much risk mold

actually represents.

" As long as real estate buyers are concerned, you can't afford to

take the issue lightly, " Lombardo said. " A mold test and home

inspection is the best way to help homeowners ensure that a mold

problem won't creep up on them. "

To contact Lombardo, call him at 304-877-6111.