Buying a Home with Mold Awareness – Charlotte NC Certified EcoBroker® Real Estate Expert

Household mold is finally getting the attention it deserves. When you are in the market to buy a home, make sure you have it professionally inspected for any signs of mold growth.

Mold litigation is on the rise and more and more lawyers are taking on cases related to mold exposure and sickness. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), “In 2001, a family in Texas won $32.1 million (later reduced to an amount kept confidential) in a case involving extensive mold damage to their home. Even Erin Brockovich, Michael Jordan, Bianca Jagger and Ed McMahon have experienced mold contamination in their houses. The Governor of North Carolina had to move out of the mold-infested Governor’s Mansion in August 2005.  Mold is a health risk for children, adults and even pets.”

Awards have also gone against home builders when juries agreed that poor workmanship contributed to the mold. Most homeowner policies include a clause that excludes or limits payments for mold-related issues. Their policy seems to be ”Caveat Emptor” and it’s up to consumers to be made aware of the hazards of household mold.

All Homes Have Mold

The truth is that all homes have mold to some degree. It exists everywhere. Most of the time, common household mold is fairly innocuous and we don’t even know we are living with it.

However, some individuals are highly sensitive to mold. You could literally have 6 people living in the same house with mold and only one of them will be noticeably affected by it. People who have compromised immune systems are generally more susceptible to mold and when they are exposed to it, they can become very sick. Toxic molds such as  Stachybotrys, peniciium, cladosporium, apsergillus and black mold can become a real health hazard if you’ve experienced prolonged exposure to them.

The most commonly reported symptoms of short term and long term mold exposure include:

• Redness and skin irritation
• Sneezing
• Itching Skin
• Watery/Itching Eyes
• Constant Headaches
• Nose Bleeds
• Constant Fatigue
• Respiratory Problems  
• Coughing up Blood or Black looking Debris
• Diarrhea
• Nausea /Vomiting
•  Weight Loss
• Skin Rashes/Hives
• Open Sores on the Skin
• Memory Loss “Short Term”
• Neurological & Nervous Disorders /Seizures
• Swollen Glands in the Neck Area and under the Armpit
• asthma attacks
• Chronic Sinus Infections
• Pain in Joints and Muscles
• Blindness
• Brain Damage
• Memory Loss “Long term”
• Bleeding Lungs
• Death

The Perfect Breeding Ground for Mold

The two main conditions that household molds thrive on are:

1. Moisture – Mold growth can happen as a result of a leaky roof, leaky water pipe, improperly chalked shower/ bathtub, etc. Mold also thrives in high-humidly areas with poor ventilation such as a bathroom or laundry room.
2. Food – Like all living things, mold needs food and will feed off of household materials such as fiberboard, wood, drywall, stucco leather, paper, fabric and insulation. You can even find mold growth on glass, tile and stainless steel if there is anything organic on the surface of these materials such as dirt, skin cells, food, oil, etc.

Before You Buy a Home In Charlotte, NC

Realtors, inspectors and home buyers need to beware of the mold issue.  Before you buy a home in Charlotte NC or anywhere else,  you should have it inspected for any visible signs of mold as well as the air quality for mold spores. A professional mold inspection can run anywhere from $300 -$700 dollars and believe me, it’s well worth it!  The mold testing kits you buy at your local home improvement store that require you to send samples to a lab for results are not very effective and can miss certain types of molds such as Stachybotrys. 

If mold is detected, it should be removed IMMEDIATELY and any structural repairs should be made so that it doesn’t come back. You can have your Charlotte,  NC real estate agent or attorney add a mold contingency that allows you to back out of the deal if toxic molds are found and can not be thoroughly eliminated. Mold is a Big RED FLAG because if it exists, there are also other underlying problems that are causing it.

Charlotte North Carolina Certified EcoBroker® Real Estate Professional

Leigh Brown is an EcoBroker Certified® professional serving the Charlotte NC metro area.  Leigh is dedicated to helping her clients buy homes in Charlotte, NC that are energy efficient and environmentally sensitive in design.  Leigh also helps clients market their homes in Charlotte, NC with green features. If you’re looking to buy real estate in Charlotte North Carolina, contact Leigh Brown, the real estate expert.