Monthly Archives: March 2015

Buying a Foreclosed Home May Bring Mold Home

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Purchasing a foreclosed house may seem like a way to get a beautiful home at a bargain price. If it turns out that your dream house has undetected mold, it could become a costly nightmare.

Economic instability has increased the number of foreclosed homes in the United States. An unforeseen side effect is that real estate and mold have become undesirable partners. These foreclosures sit closed up for extended periods of time, preventing the natural ventilation that draws moisture up and out.

Mold doesn’t discriminate between modest houses and mansions, affecting all styles and sizes equally. It’s estimated that some states are dealing with mold and mildew issues in more than half of foreclosed homes. Companies like Farsight Management in northeast Ohio that specialize in cleaning water damage get a significant part of their work treating these moldy foreclosures.

With power shut off to these houses, there are no sump pumps or dehumidifiers running to clear out the excess moisture. This may seem like a cost-cutting move that has backfired, but realtors don’t believe that’s the case. Larger numbers of foreclosed homes simply make an already lengthy process even more time-consuming.

Realtor Rebecca Terakedis has continued to show foreclosed homes to potential buyers regardless of mold infestation, but she is aware of possible liability issues. Before entering a home, viewers are required to sign a release form indicating complete disclosure of the mold problem.

Real estate and mold don’t have to maintain this uneasy alliance. Our experienced technicians can remove mold safely and efficiently, usually in only one day. Visit our website to learn more about our innovative MoldExterm treatment.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, News

Property Managers Need to Keep an Eye Out For Mold

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When property conditions present a health risk to tenants, a landlord has plenty to worry about besides repair costs. There are many problematic rental conditions for real estate and mold is at the top of that list.

In Jacksonville, Fla., an apartment complex is under legal scrutiny for renting apartments that are known to contain black mold. Property management has pledged to fix the problem, but tenants are filing a lawsuit.

Lawyers believe that damages may be owed to tenants who have suffered health problems related to mold. The property’s failure to procure mold treatment services in a timely manner and the leasing of apartments that already contained the mold may be more than sufficient grounds for a successful lawsuit.

According to the CDC, toxigenic mold has been linked to respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions similar to hay fever. These problems most commonly effect the young and elderly, those with existing conditions or weak immune systems, and occasionally people who are otherwise healthy.

In other words, all commercial and residential property managers likely have tenants at risk for health problems due to mold.

In the Florida lawsuit, the apartment complex and HUD, which subsidizes the apartments, may be liable for healthcare costs and personal injury damages. Had the property managers sought mold remediation and treatment sooner, the situation would likely have been avoided altogether.

The good news regarding real estate and mold concerns is that new, scientifically advanced methods of mold treatment and prevention are available.

The MoldExterm system avoids invasive remodeling and treats mold effectively before finishing with a durable sealant. Contact Stern Mold immediately if your property shows signs of black mold.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, News

Watch Out – Foreclosed Homes Can Be a Haven for Mold

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Purchasing a foreclosed home can often turn up a diamond in the rough. However, sometimes it ends up being just plain rough. Current estimates are that more than half of the foreclosed homes in some states have mold issues.

Real estate and mold is an unpleasant mix, as many sellers and buyers are discovering. Realtor Rebecca Terakedis requires prospective buyers to sign a disclosure form releasing her from liability before she will show a home infested with mold.

In most homes, a natural process known as the stack effect acts to reduce the conditions that promote development of mold. As seasons change and household members go in and out, ventilation sucks moisture upwards and out through the roof, aided by heating and air conditioning systems.

Foreclosed homes sit empty, resulting in moisture accumulating inside. In addition, electricity is shut off so sump pumps and dehumidifiers don’t have a chance to do their part. Bob Bennett operates a company in northeastern Ohio that specializing in cleaning water-damaged buildings. He says a quarter of his jobs involve foreclosed homes that have fallen victim to mold.

Ms. Terakedis relates a story about showing a foreclosed home in the middle of the winter. Outdoor temperatures were so cold that icicles had formed on the garage windows, but the interior of the house was a muggy 80 degrees because it had begun to self-compost.

Don’t assume that real estate and mold is a problem only with foreclosures. All it takes is one spore landing on a damp spot to begin mold growth. Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, News

Mold Problems Can Cause Landlords More Than Headaches

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Whenever you read or hear a news story about Real Estate and Mold, you are likely to also notice the words litigation and plaintiffs. That is because mold in apartments or rental properties can be a serious health risk to occupants and a major liability to landlords.

People with any type of immunodeficiency condition are at highest risk. That can include young children, seniors, people with diabetes, those with Graves’ disease, asthma sufferers, and many other common conditions. That means every landlord has some tenants that are highly sensitive to mold spores and at risk of serious illness from unhealthy air.

Indoor air quality laws

In 2001, California was the first state to pass any law dealing with toxic mold in residential rental properties. That state was quickly followed by Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Texas, and Washington. By 2003, 30 states and the federal government had passed some form of Real Estate and Mold legislation. Also growing at a brisk pace are personal injury lawsuits connected with mold exposure in apartments and rental houses. The Environmental Law Institute has a database of indoor air quality laws for every state.

Other legal actions

As homeowners are finding out in Ypsilanti Township, properties can draw legal actions even without having any current occupants. The board of trustees for Ypsilanti has served notice to eight homeowners that they need to make the needed repairs or the houses will be declared a public nuisance and demolished.

To protect your tenants from unhealthy air and protect yourself from possible legal action, call Stern Mold to schedule a thorough inspection of all your buildings. Ask about our effective MoldExterm system.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Tips

Actress Suzanne Somers Reveals Her Frightening Ordeal with Black Mold

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Keep Your Family and Friend Safe from Mold

Keep Your Family and Friends Safe from Mold

Wealth and fame are no protection when it comes to mold and health issues. Actress Suzanne Somers, who is scheduled to compete in the new season of Dancing with the Stars, detailed her frightening experience in her book “TOX-SICK: From Toxic to Not Sick”.

After their Malibu home burned down a few years ago, Ms. Somers and husband Alan Hamel moved into a temporary rental. They were unaware of a black mold infestation in an unfinished downstairs room that spread to the home’s heating and air conditioning ducts.

During the four years they lived in the home, Ms. Somers noticed that her usually healthy husband began getting sick frequently. When the advocate for nutritional eating started experiencing stomach upsets, she decided to investigate and discovered that the black mold was affecting her digestive system and her husband’s sinuses.

At that point Ms. Somers and Hamel immediately left the rental home and both recovered after moving to a healthier residence. After the couple lost all their personal belongings in the fire, Ms. Somers bought all new furnishings and accessories that they had to leave behind rather than risk transporting the mold to their new home.

Fortunately, Ms. Somers’ recovery to full health is allowing her to compete on Dancing with the Stars. The story could have had a much different ending if she had not discovered the toxic mold affecting her and her husband.

Everyone is vulnerable to destructive mold and health issues. Our unique MoldExterm system uses non-invasive methods to remove all traces of mold from your home or office. Safeguard your health by contacting us to schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment, News