Buying a home is a complicated process that carries with it all sorts of pitfalls. For many people, a home is not only the most valuable investment they will ever make, it is also one of the most complicated transactions they will be involved with.

Any number of issues can arise from poor construction, title issues, liens, contract disagreements, and hidden problems even the seller was unaware of.

One large issue is the presence of mold in a home. Some kinds of mold are harmless but others can be incredibly dangerous and even deadly. Mold inspection is a necessary part of purchasing any home and remediation may be necessary if mold is discovered.

Why is Mold So Bad?

To be clear, the term mold encompasses hundreds of different species of the plant-like organism. Mold can be found on virtually any organic substance and not all mold is bad. Some molds are used to create important medicines while others are perfectly harmless although unsightly.

The species of mold that gives the whole category a bad name is Stachybotrys or Black Mold. Black mold can easily grow in homes where there has been water damage or poor maintenance over time. Just because mold is black in color, however, does not mean it is Stachybotrys.

Los Angeles Mold Remediation & Mold Inspection

In the city of Los Angeles, many real estate transactions require a mold inspection. Deadly molds tend to thrive in dark, damp, and hot environments. This makes Los Angeles and surrounding areas and an ideal environment to promote mold growth when combined with darkness and water.

What Happens When Mold is Found?

If you are looking at purchasing a particular home, have it inspected for mold, and find that there is deadly mold present; there are different avenues you can take.

The extent of mold found: The first thing an inspector will advise you on is the scope and eventual cost of remediation for the mold found. For instance, if mold is found all throughout the infrastructure of a home, it may not be worth remediation. If it is only found in one small area of a bathroom or kitchen, however, that’s not a big deal.

Cost to remediate: The scope of mold in a home does not always determine how much it will cost to remediate it. To get rid of mold, anything it’s growing on needs to be removed and properly disposed of. If mold is growing in critical areas of a home, the could mean far more expensive to remove and rebuild those portions.

Ultimately, finding the mold in the first place during an inspection will put you ahead of the game. Even if it costs way too much to remove it, you still have the ability to back out of a real estate transaction.