As you should be well aware, mold has become a potential
issue in the marketing of homes. It is my opinion, along with many other
professionals, that although there are some horror stories out there this whole
issue is being blown way out of proportion with what is the reality of mold. As
you begin your research please be aware of the
following:
-
Your existing home and your new home both
contain mold as does the outside air and every
breath you take. Mold has been present on this
earth since the beginning of time.
-
Mold is crucial to our very existence on this
planet. They are the cleaners breaking down dead
plants and animals.
-
Mold comes in virtually every color and has varying
appearances.
-
Mold is used in various cheeses and for the
original production of the antibiotic penicillin,
which has healed and saved countless individuals.
Chemicals from mold are used to help prevent
rejection of organ transplants and to treat high
cholesterol. Mold, in its proper place, is good
not a bad thing!
-
Until the recent issue of "toxic"
mold in the media mold in homes has not been
considered a threat to individuals or an issue
with the purchase of homes. We all knew about mold
but considered it to be a harmless nuisance. For
the most part it has been ignored.
-
Since common household mold was not perceived
as a problem, there has been little research on
it's affect on the occupants of homes. Most
information on mold is based on opinions not
research and those opinions vary widely and
sometimes conflict.
-
Many have now developed a passion for mold, especially
attorneys who attend seminars with such titles as
"Mold is Gold". Some Home Inspectors
also look at mold testing as a potential revenue
source, although no acceptable protocol for mold
testing exists, and most of those testing have no
idea what level of mold should be of concern.
Homebuyers now have an unnatural fear of mold
which is without basis in fact or scientific
research.
In
an attempt to provide good information on this issue access to the following
recourses are offered. In most cases, with very few
exceptions, the presence of mold should not need to adversely affect the sale of
homes. Remember this as you research mold. Mold is not the problem,
it is the results of a problem with moisture and ventilation. Or, put more
bluntly: "It's about the water dummy." Here are good articles and
sites to better educate yourself on this drastically misunderstood subject.
The best single article I have read on Mold in
Homes: Indoor Mold Causes & Cures
The best site I have seen for the novice is
provided by the
National Association of Home Builders: http://moldtips.com/
If you aren't comfortable with what someone in the business of selling homes
has to say about mold check out what the state of North Carolina has to say
about the issue (if you live here, you paid for it!): http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/oii/mold/
If you question what North Carolina tax payers have paid for, check out what
your federal tax dollars have funded: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/ or
jump to a great brochure you can download in PDF format and print. Its free, you
already paid for it! http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html.
There are four mold related articles on this site:
Mold
Mold II
Protecting Homes From Water Damage
Powered Attic Ventilators
Now, it you haven't had enough, try out this great
site:
Check out what the state of
California has to say about this issue:
http://www.cal-iaq.org/mold0107.htm
