Signs a Home May Have Mold

When buying a home, you’re on the lookout for structural damage or HVAC system issues that surface during a home inspection. No one wants to inherit a home with problems. However, what goes unseen—mold—can be just as big a concern for homebuyers.

Mold can grow just about anywhere, and without remediation, its presence can damage not only your home but also your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that mold can trigger allergic-type reactions: stuffy nose, itchy eyes, skin irritations, or worse. So before you buy a home in the Richmond, VA, area, make sure it doesn’t have mold issues.

Some signs of potential mold growth include:

• Health reactions: If you begin to get a stuffy nose or itchy eyes when inside the home, mold may be present but not visible.
• Water damage: A leaky roof or broken waterline can cause water damage in a hurry. Water damage doesn’t always mean mold is present, but if the water wasn’t cleaned properly, molds may have begun to grow. Pay attention to areas that appear to have past water damage to see whether you can spot mold.
• Visible mold: If you see dark or green patches in any area of the home, don’t assume they’re dirt. Molds come in many shades, and you don’t want to overlook it.

The best way to verify whether a home has mold is to have a professional mold inspection along with a home inspection. Companies may vary in how they complete a mold inspection, but at Burgess Inspections, Inc., we combine a visual inspection along with indoor air-quality testing. We’ve found this combination very effective in detecting mold in Richmond homes.

For more information or to schedule a mold inspection, contact Burgess Inspections at (804) 794-1423. We serve the areas in and around Chesterfield County and Henrico County in Virginia.

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