|
A mold inspection / assessment on a vacant foreclosure home is recommended.
We usually recommend a mold assessment if a home inspection reveals suspect conditions or if a potential buyer
has an immune problem but when a home or building is in foreclosure we always recommend a mold inspection. (exception: if the buyer is very familiar with the building and its history and feels confident there is
no problem)
Home and commercial foreclosures are common here in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Ft Myers,
Cape Coral and all of Southwest Florida. Buyers can purchase some really nice
homes at bargain prices. Buyers of foreclosed home should be aware of potential
problems we see all too often when performing mold inspections.
1) Electricity is often turned off
for long periods of time.
Without the HVAC systems removing moisture from the air inside the home, mold can
grow (humidity bloom). This can be a simple cleanup situation or it can be a
costly mold remediation project. Without a professional mold assessment by a
Certified Indoor Environmentalist or an Industrial Hygienist you really don’t know.
You as a buyer need remediation recommendations written based on nationally accepted industry standards; not some home
inspector’s best guess. Your mold assessor / inspector should carry mold
errors and omissions insurance (required in 2010 by new Florida mold law).
2) Water intrusion is common in abandoned homes / structures.
When homes are vacant, plumbing leaks, roof leaks and clogged drains inside and
outside can cause mold problems inside the home that are not always noticed by the buyer, agent or untrained professional. Infrared thermal imaging camera and moisture meters are required for a proper evaluation
of any water intrusion.
Buyers should be aware that the EPA does not recommend air tests alone to decide if a home needs mold remediation. A visual inspection is the most important part of a mold assessment.
The mold inspector / assessor should decide if the home needs mold remediation, no one else.
Lab analysis report should be interpreted by the inspector.
"Experience in interpretation of results is essential.”
EPA
|
“Sampling for mold should be conducted by
professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting the results." EPA
|
Old
News:
“Collier
County is ranked number one, and Lee County ranked number two in the entire State of Florida in Existing home (re-sales) sales
ending February 2004. Collier County saw a 28% gain and Lee County had an 18% gain in sales of existing homes from February
2003 to February 2004.”
http://realestate.classifieds1000.com/articles/Naples_and_Southwest_Florida_Real_Estate_Is_Hot.html
Although
sales are different today, sales are picking up in our opinion, since we perform work for over 30 home inspectors and thousands
of Real estate agents in Collier and Lee Counties we generally have a good perception of what the market is doing. “There are some great deals out there” seems to be an accurate description from our perspective.
|
