SEATTLE - It's a four-letter word that many potential homebuyers or sellers don't want to hear during inspections - mold.
Mold can be a nagging problem in our wet regional climate and a home sale killer. But there are things you can do to help.
Wade Pennington of Inspection Services Northwest is a certified thermographer, meaning he's trained in the use of infrared cameras for home inspections.
For a few hundred dollars, Wade's camera can come to the rescue of homeowners who are worried about potential mold growth areas inside a home's structure, but who would rather not tear through sheet rock to find out.
"It's when we have water leaks in a wall system that's not visible to the naked eye and then we bring the infrared technology into play, and then we can really see where the issues are," Pennington said. "And those are the issues where we have somebody maybe has symptoms in the house and they can't see anything, there's nothing visible."
Industrial hygienist Larry Lee, who inspects homes and commercial buildings, can also be a hero for homeowners with tips on putting mold on hold. Like how to control the moisture and air flow in a bathroom.
"What they can do is always, always, always use the bathroom fan, turn it on and make sure that it's working, hold a piece of tissue paper up to it and make sure that it's sucking in the air," he said. "The solution is again to control the moisture. It's all about the moisture and wiping it down after every shower is a good way to go."
Both Lee and Pennington encourage homeowners to thoroughly document any major water damage cleanup due to leaks or acts of nature and to have pre-list inspections before homes are put on the market.
After all, you don't want any moldy surprises playing the villain in a potential sale.
In Washington state, home sellers are required to fill out a form - form seventeen - if they've had major mold issues with their homes. Another reason, says Larry lee, you need to thoroughly document all cleanup efforts if you've had a major water leak or been the victim of a flood.
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