Common Questions
What if the house I'm buying has mold?
Answer
Mold found during a purchase is a question of how much, why, and what it will take to fix. The water source matters as much as the mold: EPA's first rule is that mold control is moisture control.
Texas gives buyers one specific document to ask for. When a licensed remediation is finished, the remediator must give the owner a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days, with a statement from a licensed assessor that the mold was remediated as the protocol required. A seller must give the buyer a copy of every certificate issued for the property in the five years before the sale.
Our recommendation
If the home inspector notes possible mold, or the house has a history of leaks, have a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant inspect before your option period ends, and ask the seller for any mold remediation certificates. A general home inspection isn't a mold inspection.
What the sources say
“Not later than the 10th day after the date on which a license holder completes mold remediation at a property, the license holder shall provide a certificate of mold remediation to the property owner.”
“If a property owner sells property, the property owner shall provide to the buyer a copy of each certificate issued for the property under this section during the five years preceding the date the property owner sells the property.”
“The key to mold control is moisture control.”