Real Estate Agents and Mold

8/29/2017 (Permalink)

Excessive moisture in this home in Dickson City was the cause of this mold intrusion. We were called by the insurance company to remediate it.

As the number of foreclosed homes continue to rise, so does a BIG problem for real estate agents – MOLD.

Foreclosed homes are more susceptible to mold due to the “closed up” conditions the home is left in. In our normal day to day lives, we go in and out of our homes promoting a natural ventilation. This daily ventilation sucks the moisture out of our home up into the attic and out through the roof. This process is known as the stack effect.

Empty homes, on the other hand, are sitting inactive season after season without proper ventilation. If moisture is trapped inside the home, you are sure to have mold growth. If you are in real estate, you are well aware that this has become an increasingly important issue for you for several reasons.

1. Our modern energy efficient practices. In the 1970’s energy became expensive. So we began to build buildings and homes that were tight, designed to maximize energy efficiency. The down side of this building method was realized fairly soon after. The byproduct of this type of construction was poor ventilation, mold, and problems with indoor air quality. These tightly sealed buildings essentially trap moisture inside, restricting the home from “breathing”, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
2. Litigation and liability activity has significantly increased as public awareness of the dangers of mold exposure have grown. Caveat Emptor is all but a thing of the past in real estate. The operative phrase now is “sellers beware” as more and more states are requiring that home sellers provide a potential buyer with a property disclosure form listing any conditions and information known to the seller that often times can hinder a sale. Failure to do so is serious business that could even result in civil or criminal action. If mold damage is on the list, most potential buyers will thank you for your time and move on.
3. Recent findings suggests apartment rentals are on the rise. Younger people are finding it more appealing to have a landlord remediate a mold/structural issue than to attempt to tackle it themselves.

As we are all aware, the presence of mold within a home will stall the closing process of any home sale and a professional remediation company is needed. Call SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge at (570) 235-1646. We are the Scranton's area leader in mold remediation company.