How to Avoid Buying a Home With Mold in Toronto and the GTA
Buying a new home comes with many hopes and dreams, but nobody wants a mold removal in Toronto and the GTA to be part of their first memories. While mold testing can be a valuable tool after the fact, knowing what to watch out for during showings and open houses can help you recognize warning signs and symptoms before you sign on the dotted line. Here is some of MoldTech’s best advice when it comes to buying a new home.
The Problems with Mold Contamination
One of the most complex parts of identifying mold growth in a potential home is that mold can mimic the look of dirt, debris, or other less serious home issues. While mold often has a strong, musty odour, hundreds of different household mould types have their own unique properties, textures, colours, and smells.
Additionally, mold can grow all over the house: it can be hidden in the attic, around tiling or cupboards in the bathroom or kitchen, or grow in basements and crawlspaces. This variable nature makings mold testing an essential tool for accurate identification.
Should You Buy a Home That Has Mold
If you’ve found your dream home, but there are identifiable mold issues, what should you do? If you’ve booked a home inspection, MoldTech would love to be there! We can inspect and test for mold during a pre-purchase home inspection and help you determine the costs for future mold removal in Toronto and the GTA. Mold inspection can give you valuable insight into whether or not the problem is one you want to tackle — and great bargaining leverage.
Common Places to Inspect for Mold
When you’re looking around a potential home, we suggest paying close attention to the following spaces:
- Attic
- Bathroom
- Exterior windows
- Laundry room
- Kitchen
- Basement and crawlspace
Can People Sell A House That Has Mold?
Because mold growth is often hidden, many sellers are unaware that their building has a mold problem, and it’s generally left to the buyer to find out if there are any issues with the property. However, sellers must disclose latent defects, a term that refers to inaccessible or not very obvious problems. If they’re aware of latent defects that may affect your health and safety, they could be liable for damages.
When selling or buying a home with mold, mold testing should be a critical part of the deal. It can help assess the property's value and identify any current or future repair issues, giving you a lot of knowledge and foresight into what you can expect. MoldTech specializes in mold removal in Toronto and the GTA and has helped hundreds of new and experienced homeowners make informed decisions about mold removal before, during, and after the home-buying process. To ask us about our free visual inspections or book mold testing, call us at 1-866-684-7684.