Obligation to search for mold?

**Artichoke** · 03-18-2010, 06:37 PM

I am about to put my house on the market (in Northern Virginia).

At one point, there was a water intrusion during heavy rain. It only occurred when there was hard rain coming from a particular direction, and so it was not a persistent wetness. In any event, there was water dripping from the ceiling on a few different short-term occasions. (The problem has since been repaired.)

My wife thinks we should cut a hole in the ceiling and look for mold. I don't see a need to do so. I think that it is unlikely there is mold; that if there is, it is trapped in the ceiling; and that actively searching for it would cost a lot of time and money.

Is there any obligation on our part to actively search for mold if there is a (however slim) chance there might be some there?

We will of course disclose that there had been a leak; but I don't see the point in ripping open the ceiling to search for it.

**PreviewOrangeCounty** · 03-18-2010, 09:32 PM

I don't believe you have to search for mold. Thorough disclosure should suffice

**markbrian** · 03-19-2010, 06:38 AM

I would suggest paying for a licensed and qualified home inspector to perform an inspection BEFORE putting your home on the market.

**Mold Testing Guy** · 03-04-2011, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by markbrian

I would suggest paying for a licensed and qualified home inspector to perform an inspection BEFORE putting your home on the market.

Mark,
I believe you are spot on. By doing a proactive mold test / mold inspection , you can id potential problems without cutting holes in the area of question. Plus by having quantitative data, you can use this to help differentiate your home from others on the market.

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**markbrian** · 03-04-2011, 06:56 AM

One very important thing to remember is whatever is found in the inspection will have to be disclosed according to the laws in your area, even if you repair the problems.

But if a seller does an inspection BEFORE putting their home on the market they can address any problems before it possibly turns a buyer off. And in this market, you do not want to give a buyer any reason to say no!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!