We hear from home inspectors all the time that they don’t want to offer mold testing because they are worried about blowing up a sale. But the opposite is more likely to happen. Mold testing is a great resource for real estate agents and home buyers. Think of mold testing as a way to solve an unknown problem.

Home buyers should be aware of any mold problems before purchasing a home. 

More likely than not, there isn’t enough mold present for the sale of a home to not go through. Instead, mold helps home buyers identify mold issues in the house, like a water leak. But if there is enough to end the sale, then providing that information helps protect a family from breathing in potentially harmful air for years, which may lead to health concerns.

When mold is found…

If mold is found, the buyer’s agent can then write up a seller concession and get the money to fix the issue causing the mold, like a water leak. The home buyer still gets the home of their dreams, but they can find out about an issue now instead of six months from now when the issue has escalated. The issue is identified while it is still minimal, and the sellers can pay for the repairs.

Don’t hesitate to report mold like you would report structural issues

Let’s face it no home is perfect. As a home inspector, you’re not afraid to bring up a structural issue found during your inspection. Even though that discovery can end a sale, it should be the same way with mold testing. Providing home buyers with critical information is necessary for their financial and physical well-being. As a home inspector, it’s your job to ensure that the home buyers make a good purchase. Issues found during a home inspection, like mold, are simply part of the process and not something that should be feared.