Buying a new home is exciting. What’s not exciting is discovering mold after you’ve already closed the deal. If you’re in the process of finding a new home in Western New York or you found mold after purchasing, a mold removal and remediation company can help.
Obvious Signs of Mold
Mold is easily recognizable due to its dark black, green, or brown color. It’s also easy to spot because it tends to appear in groupings on floorboards and tile walls. When inspecting a home for the first time, look out for:
- Groups of dark spots on the floors and walls, especially in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, and anywhere else that sees a lot of moisture
- A musty, damp smell in certain areas of the home
- Soft spots on the floor
- Bubbles in the wallpaper or paint, as this is a sign of a possible moisture buildup
- Allergic reactions: do you sneeze or have watery eyes when you enter a particular room in a house? If so, mold could be the problem, as it tends to trigger allergies and other respiratory conditions.
Ask the Seller Questions
In New York, sellers are required by law to disclose any defects in their home to the potential buyer. However, you can help determine a mold problem by asking a few key questions. First, ask the homeowners if they’ve ever had a broken pipe, as this is one of the leading causes of mold growth when left untreated. Second, ask them if their windows have ever leaked, as this is another common cause of mold development.
By asking a few key questions about any potential water damage, you can get a better idea of whether or not the home may have been exposed to mold.
Add Mold Contingency in Your Offer
Buying a home is a big investment, so many potential buyers include an offer that includes a mold-related contingency. This means that a mold inspection agency will come to the home to determine whether or not mold is present. If it is, this allows the potential buyers to withdraw their offer or discuss alternative methods with the sellers before moving forward.
What To Do If You Bought a Home With Mold
If you chose to move forward with the purchase despite an existing mold problem or discovered it unexpectedly, don’t fret. You have options available to get your new home back to a healthy state. A mold removal and remediation company will conduct in-depth testing to determine the type of mold growth your home has, remove it with safe cleaning methods, and restore your damaged carpet, walls, or furniture.
Schedule an Appointment with Green Genie Environmental
Buying a new home should be an exciting adventure; don’t let a mold infestation deter you from moving forward with your dream house. At Green Genie Environmental, we use eco-friendly methods to remove mold. Contact us today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment for mold removal and remediation.