Austin Homebuying - What You Should Know About Mold

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Austin Homebuying - What You Should Know About Mold

Posted by Garreth Wilcock under For Buyers, For Sellers, Regional

News, Austin, First Time Homebuyers

http://garreth.featuredblog.com/?p=71

Homebuyers in Austin should be wary of mold. One home inspector I

met with while representing a buyer last week would not even use the

word " mold " , refering to it as the " m-word " in his report. If even

inspectors are afraid to use the word out loud in front of buyers,

it's essential to understand the implications of mold in a home you

are buying, or for that matter, selling.

Is there mold in the home I'm buying?

More than likely there is some mold in the home you are buying. In

the early years of 2000, there was a rush of homeowners making

insurance claims for mold damage. Texas is prone to humid conditions

which can exacerbate mold proliferation if you don't take steps to

avoid conducive mold conditions.

The first thing to know about molds is that they are all around us

in Austin, Texas. Not all of them are toxic, but they occur anywhere

where there is a food source - wallpaper, drywall paper, and they

need moisture to thrive.

Humid homes suffer from more mold than drier, air-conditioned homes.

Homes with water penetration from leaking roofs and dripping faucets

also have damp conditions that mold can use to build an empire.

Canl mold damage my health and the home?Unchecked mold growth can

have effects on the structure of your home as mold consumes parts of

the building materials it is feeding on - wood, wallpaper etc. It

can also have effects on your health. Some molds produce mycotoxins

which are extremely hazardous to health, whereas others can cause

allergic reactions such as

sneezing and/or nasal congestion

eye irritation

coughing or throat irritation

breathing difficulty

skin irritation

headaches and fatigue

What information is available about mold in the home?

There are a number of documents you can read to educate yourself

about mold in the home.

The Texas Association of Realtors has a form, General Information

and Notice to a Buyer, which says the following in environmental

concerns:

Mold. It is not uncommon to find mold spores in a property. The

concern about mold increases when there are large amounts of mold

found in a property. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes a

document titled " Protect Your Home from Mold " (TAR 2507) which

discusses mold in more detail.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a primer: A Brief Guide To

Mold, Moisture and Your Home.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has a great resource:

Protecting Your Home From Mold.

The University of Kansas has a pdf: Controlling Mold Growth in the

Home.

Garreth Wilcock is a real estate agent with the Pinnacle Group at

Keller . He specializes in Central and East Austin Real

Estate. Call 512 694 8873 if you want a free valuation of your home

or contact him here. You can search the Austin MLS at his website.