Re: Before buying a home, check for mold

[Guest guest]

This is true but at least in Atlanta, very few inspectors check for this much

less know anything about it. This is a career I would like to get into for this

reason. I was even told allot of inspectors have a no guarantee policy. This

is what happened in my old rental house I am told. Hmmm I would think this was

the most important thing. but then you woulds not get recommended by many

Realtors.......

Chris...

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

The Community Press

Wednesday, April 12, 2006; Posted: 11:15 a.m. EDT

Before buying a home, check for mold

http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20060412/LIFE/604120829/1077

When buying a house it's a must to first get it checked out by a

full house inspector. But I'm told even an ASHI Certified home

inspector might not have noticed the problem one woman encountered

after she bought a house in Loveland last summer.

That's because a major renovation had just been done -- but now she

faces some costly repairs. It's all because many basement floors and

homes built on concrete slabs have no moisture barriers, or have

deteriorating barriers beneath the concrete, so water is able to

penetrate the concrete.

" It passed home inspection, " Rubdie, of Loveland, says. " There

were a few little minor things they had to do like fix the doors,

the attic and the chimney. "

The investment company she bought it from made the repairs and she

bought it.

In December, and her 14-year-old son started having health

problems and saw a doctor. " I have been on three types of

antibiotics, and my son's been on two or three continuously. There

was no improvement, and I started losing my voice, " Rubdie says.

Her doctor then tested for mold and found they were both highly

allergic. A subsequent test of the house showed high mold levels

throughout. " I probably shouldn't even be living here now, " she says.

Rubdie now has fans, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers throughout the

house to try to cut down on the moisture and mold. Meanwhile, she

says, " I received an anonymous HUD listing in the mail and it said

this house had been condemned. It said there was no admittance to

the property because of toxic mold. "

In the year since HUD found the toxic mold, the house was sold twice

before Rubdie bought it. During that time it was gutted and fixed up

but wetness in the concrete slab apparently remains. That moisture

causes mold growth inside the walls that rest on the concrete.

Rubdie now advises buyers, " Get a mold inspection done prior to

buying a house, period. "

The person who sold the house to Rubdie told her he was unaware of

any mold problem at all. HUD officials tell me they insured the

house again when Rubdie bought it without first insisting on a mold

inspection because they believed remediation work had been

performed. Again, it was, but it failed to remedy the underlying

cause of the problem.

Bottom line, if you're considering buying a house built on a slab,

it's a good idea carefully check for signs of moisture.

Troubleshooter Ain answers consumer complaints and questions

weekdays at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on WKRC-TV Local

12. You can write to him at Hey , 12 WKRC-TV, 1906 Highland

Ave., Cincinnati 45219.

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