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Proudly Serving Northampton County, Lehigh County, Bucks County, and Surrounding Areas.
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Mold Inspection FAQ's
| Contained here are typical questions we are asked by prospective, current, and past mold inspection clients clients. | |
Pre-Mold Inspection Questions |
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Do I need a Mold Inspection? |
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We can't answer that with an FAQ, but understand some things. Unless you live in some type of 'clean room' mold is everywhere. Typically we notice it as mildew growing on damp bathroom surfaces. Where we come in, is when indications of mold outside of the house's 'normal' areas become visible. |
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I'm concerned about mold, do you offer free consultations? |
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| Yes. With a quick phone call to us, or a message, we can help start getting your mold questions answered. Understand, we can only offer information we have already learned, which means basic mold prevention and correction, since we do not know your specific mold situation. This can only be obtained by us performing a mold inspection. | |
Can I attend the mold inspection? |
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| Yes and No. It is your house, so we cannot prevent you from following us. In a normal home inspection we HIGHLY encourage you attend the home inspection, but sometimes mold offer complications that put others at risk. Example: Strachybotrys chartarum, the 'black mold' typically published about in the media, is a tough mold. What I mean by tough is it can be present but it is usually solidly affix to the surface it inhabits. I've taken air samples, and NO Strachybotrys chartarum, however ceiling tiles damaged by water leaks were heavily damaged by Strachybotrys chartarum. So walking around, little-to-none Strachybotrys chartarum exposure. However during the bulk/contact sampling procedures, the mold and its spores can be driven airborne and poss an increased health risk. During these times, we request you do not stand over our shoulder, so we can concentrate on minimal chances of an accident. | |
Can you explain what you do for a mold inspection? |
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| We follow nationally accepted standards of practice for performing a mold inspection. The mold inspection is a specialized visual home inspection, trying to identity potential causes of mold growth. Which means we aren't specially looking for mold, but places where mold can, has, or is going to grow with time. So our mold inspections work for not only to identify mold problems, but to identify ways as a home owner you can prevent mold growth. | |
How long does a mold inspection take? |
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| An average size takes about 2+ hours on site, and then a few more hours compiling the mold inspection report. | |
Are mold sampling included in your mold inspection? |
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| No. We follow a general guidelines established by the EPA, no active mold growth in a home is safe. Regardless of the the type of mold. So we focus on indentifying places where mold is visibly is, or can grow at a later date. | |
I spoke with other mold inspectors and sampling is included? |
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Two reasons: 1. Their mold inspection standards are practice were influenced by national mold testing labs to ensure they make money off of a simple mold inspection. 2. With every mold test, is an expensive lab fee. Because of this, the mold inspector can charge a higher markup, so the total mold inspection (with required samples) is priced very high. Even if you don't need mold samples, per nationally accepted mold standards, you bill be sold service. |
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Other inspectors offer really cheap mold inspections? |
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| To get themselves in the door. I've been called by clients of other mold inspection companies and this is what I usually hear. "I was sold a $99 mold inspection service, and then the final price was over $700!" I would ask, why the high price, and then they would explain. The inspector said there was a potential for mold everywhere and he did a bunch of air samples and mold samples. He scared me into thinking my home was dangerous. Now I have mold reports I don't understand, and he won't return my calls." | |
Have you had many of these Sad Stories? |
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| About 2 per year. | |
What can a home owner do to prevent being ripped off? |
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| Like with any home service follow common sense steps. Get estimates from a few companies. This can be done over the phone with you asking questions like the mold inspectors qualifications, what is included, and why should you hire them. Try to compare 'apples to apples' as far as qualifications and services offered. It is your money, and your home, so only invite in service people who are reputable, and know what they are doing. | |
So how much for a mold inspection? |
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| We will need some information prior to giving you an estimate, how large home, age, and background. You might not need a mold inspection, so we want to make sure we talk to you first. Please feel free to reference our inspection fees page for further information. | |
Mold Sampling Questions |
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I already had a home inspection, I just need mold samples? |
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I love this start off of a mold consulation. I susually responde with, I'm sorry you didn't get a home inspection from us, since this would have already been taken care of. Then I ask, Who said you need mold samples, was there mold? After my questions are answered, we find out the home inspector did a qucik inspection and wanted his money. Since odds were they were not Pa complitn home inspectors (certificaiton and insuranced) they just ran when the home inspection got complicated. So call us, we can try to help. |
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Ok, ? |
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No, if you are getting a mortgage dependent on a professional termite inspection (such as VA/FHA/HUD), or you used a PAR buyer's agreement. All require you to only use Certified Pesticide Applicator, certified in wood destroying insects. Our Home Inspector Tom is certified. Also, No, if you want a real professional termite inspection. You are using real money to pay for it, right? |
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