| Environmental Mold Inspections are very | | | | The interior of the house looked pristine with no |
| important in today's Foreclosure Market. With so | | | | visible problems. It was tiled in the Living Room |
| many homes that are being repossessed, there | | | | and around the fireplace. Looked great to the |
| are a lot of vacant homes on the market today. | | | | normal eye. New paint, perfect condition to the |
| Vacant homes mean one thing, the homeowner is | | | | visible eye. If there is a flood in a home that lasts |
| not maintaining the home properly and this means | | | | for an extended period of time, the thin-set under |
| possible mold. | | | | the tiles tends to fail and hollow spots will start to |
| Recently, we received a request from one of our | | | | develop. Tapping on the tiles revealed multiple |
| clients to check out a home for possible mold in | | | | hollow spots under the tiles. Red Flag number |
| Port St. Lucie, Fl. They were buying the home in | | | | four, this one is pretty serious.The hollow spots |
| as-is condition with rights of inspection. The home | | | | were all around the fireplace and adjoining walls. |
| was less than 5 years old and we were told it | | | | I recommended to my client that we do |
| had no history of water leaks. The realtor | | | | extensive Microbial Testing in this area around the |
| informed us that the homeowner refurbished the | | | | chimney. Microbial Testing of the interior walls |
| home less than two years ago because they did | | | | within 10 feet of the fireplace revealed elevated |
| not like the original cabinets. When someone says | | | | levels of Chaetomium mold. Chaetomium requires |
| the homeowner replaces three year old cabinets | | | | high levels of moisture to grow, thus this area |
| to me, this is a Red Flag to possible water issues | | | | was part of an undisclosed flood area. You |
| in the home. First Red Flag. | | | | guessed it, my client walked away from the deal, |
| The Home Inspector had checked the home out | | | | thus saving thousands of dollars in hidden microbial |
| and said there were only a few minor problems | | | | damage remediation costs. |
| with the home. There were roof tiles broken by | | | | In conclusion, the moral of the story is not to |
| the fireplace chimney that needed to be fixed but | | | | believe everything you are told about a home, |
| he said the roof was intact except for that | | | | especially one that is vacant. Some homeowners |
| location. The next problem area in this job was | | | | will tell you the truth, while others will not tell you |
| the broken roof tiles by the chimney. Second Red | | | | the whole truth. An Environmental Microbial |
| Flag | | | | Inspection is important tool to find all the hidden |
| Weather History of an area is important in this | | | | problems in a home. A Home Inspection is |
| business especially for my clients. This house went | | | | adequate in most cases but not always as you |
| thru 4 hurricanes since 2004. My experience with | | | | saw from this home. Adequate Environmental |
| chimneys in South Florida is that they are | | | | Microbial Testing is always required to make the |
| improperly installed and not braced properly to | | | | right decision. When in doubt, always have your |
| withstand hurricane force winds. They tend to fail | | | | home tested by a qualified firm to do |
| during high winds such as a hurricane.This one was | | | | Environmental Mold Testing especially when it is |
| the third Red Flag for me. | | | | vacant. |