Don't Let Mold Stop the Sale of Your Home

The months with the fewest home sales are November, December, January, and February. With that in mind it seems this is an odd time to discuss real estate, but in fact, this is the time you need to plan if you are going to sell in the spring. According to Rob Dekanski of ReMax “New Jersey's housing market continues to defy expectations with steady price growth despite the slowdown in transactions. The 6.9% overall increase in median sales price suggests that demand remains strong, especially for single-family homes.” If you plan to take advantage of this steady price growth by putting your home on the market make sure you don’t have any surprises when it comes time to sell.

If you have had a mold problem in the past and “took care of it” with a DIY method or used a handy-man instead of a mold specialist, like Mold Solutions by Cowleys, you could be in for some problems. If a mold problem was not properly taken care of it can have a significant impact on your home’s value.

First, mold problems that were not completely taken care of the first time can reoccur.  Mold spores are microscopic, even when a moldy area looks cleaned it is possible for some spores to remain. If the issues that caused the problem in the first place (poor ventilation, leaky pipes, etc.) are not addressed, these spores can grow again into another mold problem.

In New Jersey a person selling their home has a legal obligation to disclose material facts or defects about the property. Mold, flood damage, and ongoing water problems like wet basements or crawl spaces are all disclosable information. A buyer will want to know both when an event happened and exactly what was done to remedy the situation.

Does the obligation to disclose mean that if your house ever had a mold problem you can’t get top dollar for it? The plain and simple answer is no. You can still get top dollar as long as you take the appropriate steps. If you have had a mold problem in your home you need to show that it was properly treated. This often times means showing receipts that show both who took care of the problem, and when they took care of it. Being able to prove that a reputable mold remediation specialist has addressed the problems in your home can go a long way in alleviating a buyer’s concern about your property.

If you have had mold issues in the past that may not have been remediated properly, or you are concerned with a current mold problem it is best to reach out to Mold Solutions by Cowleys. Our mold-polymer patented technology will kill and stop mold growth on or around the materials. In many cases when they are used, there is little to no demolition in the mold contaminated areas. This means a cost savings to you, and it will help to ensure there are no construction delays keeping you from getting your house on the market in the spring!