Mold Inspection 101: How Much It Costs and When to Get One

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Hey, did you buy a house and add a home inspection to your due diligence? You’re playing smart. But it’s time to play smarter and schedule a mold inspection. In fact, it is very important to get a mold inspection, especially if your home inspector notices evidence of moisture in any area of your home. Most of the time, it’s found in the basement. You might also notice some musty odor, moisture dripping into the insulation, and maybe even mold-like discoloration. All these are the red flags you MUST address before moving into the house.

One of the homebuyers reported that after four days of closing the deal, they found original hardwood that was literally molding and rotting. Only if they had scheduled a mold inspection before buying the house…

The flipper they bought the house from put the new laminate on top of the rotten and moldy wood planks (hoping nobody would notice). But, thanks to the homebuyer’s renovation plans, they ripped the flooring only to find out that the mold was spread through the entire 2000 sq ft living space flooring.

If you don’t want to go through a similar experience, it’s better to schedule a mold inspection beforehand. So, it’s time to learn more about these inspections in this blog to prepare yourself for such due diligence fully.

What Does A Mold Inspection Cover?

Mold inspection is a comprehensive property examination to identify mold growth and underlying issues. The usual mold inspection includes the following:

Visual examination for mold growth
Moisture mapping to detect hidden leaks
Air sampling
Surface sampling

Visual Inspection

When the inspector proceeds with a comprehensive visual inspection, they start by examining your property’s interior and exterior. This includes all the accessible areas that are susceptible to mold growth. Here, the inspector will be looking for the visible signs of mold growth, such as:

- Discoloration
- Water stains
- Musty odors

The home inspector will pay close attention to areas with high moisture levels, such as attics, basements, and crawlspaces.

Moisture and Humidity Assessment

Moisture drives mold growth, so it is obviously the prime suspect of every inspection. During mold inspection, the inspector assesses the moisture and humidity levels within the property. In fact, for this step, the inspector might also use moisture meters or thermal imaging cameras. These devices help them detect hidden moisture sources, condensation issues, or leaks.

Air Sampling

This is another important part of a mold inspection. Mold spores are everywhere, and even if you didn’t notice any visible sign of mold growth, spores might already be there.

Remember the experience of a homebuyer I mentioned at the start? They must have scheduled a mold inspection even if they didn’t see it. But they didn’t, and it came up as a surprise later. So, visible signs are not always apparent. This is why air sampling is a part of the mold inspection. The inspector will collect air samples using specialized equipment like spore trap or air samplers. Once collected, the samples are sent to a certified laboratory for analysis.

Surface Sampling

Besides air sampling, inspectors also conduct surface sampling. They collect the samples from suspected mold-inspected surfaces using swab sampling, using either of the following methods:

Swab sampling
Tape lifting
Bulk sampling

Just like air sampling, these samples are sent to the lab for further analysis. This step helps identify the specific type of mold present and develop an appropriate remediation plan.

When to Get A Mold Inspection?

Musty odor and discoloration clearly indicate mold growth. But that isn’t the only time you should get a mold inspection. There are other instances where getting a mold inspection is often recommended. Let’s have a look at such instances:

Water Damage

You can ask the seller whether the house has experienced water damage lately, or there could be signs. If it did, then it’s better to get a mold inspection. It doesn’t matter whether it is a small broken pipe or a leaked roof. In any case, if the wet place doesn’t quickly dry up within a day or two, then there’s a fair chance of mold contamination.

Buying A New Home

This one is so obvious by now, duh. Even if the home seller has said that there wasn’t any water damage, you can’t completely trust them. There will always be uncertainty. So, to avoid the headaches later (after equipping the house), it’s better to take preventive measures before, i.e., get the mod inspection.

After A House Has Been Unoccupied

You have performed the mold inspection. The results came out negative (meaning no mold was found). You bought the house. But you didn’t shift right away and left the house as-is. Now that you’re planning to move in after some months, you must schedule a mold inspection again. Leaving home empty for months means humidity is likely building up inside, which might have led to mold growth. For this. It is better to get the mold inspection before moving in.

How Much Does the Mold Inspection Cost?

The cost of a mold inspection varies from region to region, but it is generally the same as a home inspection. So, on average, it can cost $300 to $400 (for a small and medium-sized house). If your house is bigger than 4000 square feet, it can cost up to $900.

P.S.: These are the prices for the inspection only, if the inspection involves mold testing as well then it can cost higher than this.

Conclusion

If your home inspector’s report has already suggested the possibility of mold, then it’s 100% reasonable to get a mold inspector to inspect that. It’s not only about protecting your home but also protecting yourself and your loved ones. Mold is something people are extremely sensitive to, and if it’s black mold, then there’s no point in skipping the inspection. Yes, it will cost extra, but you will feel better once the professional inspector checks it out for you. Also, the house you’re buying will be your home soon, so you don’t want to deal with issues like cleaning, running a new vent line and electrical to support it, replacing the insulation, etc.

Ensure your home is safe and sound with LinkHorn Home Inspections’ comprehensive home inspection services. Our expert inspectors will thoroughly evaluate your property, identifying potential issues such as water damage, structural concerns, etc. Don’t wait until minor problems become major repairs. Schedule your inspection today and gain peace of mind knowing your home is in good hands.

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Bryan Medley

23:31 13 Mar 24

Shawn was very helpful. He pointed out the good things as well as a few bad ones. He is easy to talk to and answered all our questions. We are glad he was there for us.

Vicki Conaway

20:00 13 Mar 24

Kelsey Hansen

15:57 13 Mar 24

Dylan Scott with Linkhorn Home Inspections was great to work with. He was very helpful and knowledgeable in the home inspection process. We appreciate all of your advice and recommendations with our new home. Highly recommend anyone to use Linkhorn Home Inspections as the process was very quick and smooth.

Lemlem Tafere

06:00 13 Mar 24

After this company came inspecting my house and left I have found wires Sticking out on my house and in The ground of my house... I've called them Numerous sometimes they refuse to answer and text them, and they do not answer me..

Kyle Alkire

00:39 13 Mar 24

Great job. 10/10

Caelyn Reineke

19:30 04 Mar 24

Samer

00:45 04 Mar 24

Nicholas Provenzano

15:27 03 Mar 24

Very detailed report for a very fair price

Robin Miller

14:15 02 Mar 24

Deko Ibrahim

05:03 02 Mar 24

Nghia Nguyen

18:57 27 Feb 24

Terrible service from the inspector and terrible communication from the office.The inspector came out but failed to inspect the basement and attic. The inspector did not go up to the attic because it was obstructed. However, if you look in the pictures, there were only a few kid's jackets and shoe boxes that were supposedly preventing the inspector from coming up.In addition, I paid for a sewer inspection, but did not receive a report for it. It took 2-3 days of trying to reach the office to receive reply that their SD card was corrupted. At the moment, I am still awaiting for a refund for this added serviceAfterwards, after many attempts to get there company to revisit the missing parts of the home. I received no comments about the attic space nor basement. The report only contained 3 pictures and a description that said, "Roof structure observation". I received no descriptive observation of the condition of the attic or structure.The office knows that I am in a tight timeline for the inspection since my inspection contingency was approaching, but I had to be the one calling them consistently for an update. I had to reach out get the inspection reschedule. I had to call to ask for the report.Again, I do not recommend Linkhorn. I should've spent another $100 and went with Flinn Inspection Group to save myself a headache.

Jesse Pertuset

15:55 23 Feb 24

The online form to request a home inspection with optional additional checks was very easy and we were able to schedule an inspection within 3 days of booking. The inspector was very friendly and polite and went over everything he discovered with us. He then sent a detailed report that same night which included photos he took of each area that needed attention.

Chris Kreuz

05:27 21 Feb 24

Linkhorn was Incredible! Jim was on time, professional, friendly and super knowledgeable about each section of the inspection. Jim addressed all of my concerns and educated me about things I didn't even know to ask about. I would recommend them any time and will definitely use them again!

Jaclynn Hartenstein

18:14 20 Feb 24

Linkhorn Inspection Group did a wonderful job. Jim was my professional inspector, and he was awesome! Very detail in his work, helpful in understanding and willing to point things out to me. He was thorough, and very professional. I appreciated him greatly and would use him again in the future for another home as my inspector! Thanks Linkhorn, especially Jim!

Anabelladonna 13

18:29 16 Feb 24

Linkhorn was AMAZING! They were on time, professional, friendly (both in person and on the phones) and super knowledgeable about each section of the inspection. Dylan addressed all of my concerns and educated me about things I didn't even know to ask about. I now know we can feel safe in our new home, and for a family with children you can't ask for anything better. The final report was very detailed and color-coded labeling items that would be a safety hazard, things that need addressed now, and maintenance items to keep an eye on and budget for later. I am very impressed!

Felix P

11:10 19 Dec 23

I wish I could leave a good review, but I cannot. The entire process felt rushed and the home inspector did not do a thorough job. As soon as the home inspector walked into the house, he was visibly annoyed. He said on multiple occasions “this is too big of a home for one inspector”. He rushed through the entire inspection, didn’t go over everything with me, and overlooked some visible damage. On the floor in the living room, there were damaged hardwood floorboards (you can even see them in the pictures from the Zillow listing). This damage was not noted in the inspection at all. Since it wasn’t noted, we just assumed it was no big deal, or it was possible water damage (there was water damage in other areas of the home). Turns out, it was termite damage. Once the drywall was removed, we discovered a ton of termite damage that ended up costing us several thousands of dollars to treat and remediate. I understand that there was no way to know what was behind the drywall during the inspection, but because there were multiple floorboards with extensive termite damage in the middle of the living room that just was either ignored or overlooked, it makes me question the rest of the inspection. We talked to neighbors who were interested in purchasing it and flipping it, but they noticed the termite damage and underbid the home because of it. If they noticed the damage, why didn’t the inspector?? The inspector also said the insulation in the attic was sufficient, but the insulation is well below the ceiling rafters (which I now know is less than ideal).Overall, I would strongly advise against using Linkhorn for home inspections because of our experience. I definitely wouldn’t have moved forward with purchasing the home had I known there was termite damage and now I’m stuck with a remediation bill worth thousands of dollars.

Amanda Tedrick

09:59 25 Jan 23

Our inspector, Shawn was amazing! He was thorough, knowledgeable, professional, and beyond accommodating. He was patient with me while I asked a myriad of questions and even anticipated which questions I might ask. The staff in the office were just as wonderful. The whole team made our home inspection easy and gave us great information that allowed us to make informed decisions. Thank you Shawn and the Linkhorn team! We’ll definitely be recommending you to family & friends in need of a home inspection!

Joy Walker

04:02 26 Oct 22

We used Linkhorn Home Inspection and as someone who has bought a home 3 times, this has been one of my best experiences during inspection. Steve, was friendly, helpful, talked us through each part of the inspection and was very informative. He also was honest that inspections are a lot and can be overwhelming but his job is just to do a thorough job so you know everything there is to know as you go through the buying process. He was timely in getting his report to us after as well. I would recommend this company and if ever buying again would use again.

Allyson Adams

21:59 19 Oct 22

Dylan was great to work with. He provided some already observed issues about our likely new house as soon as we arrived during his inspection. He took time to explain some other areas later on with great detail. He was very thorough and answered all of our questions. We are very happy with our entire experience.

Gina Oswalt

17:48 12 Oct 22

Our home inspector, Denny, from Linkhorn was exceptional. He was very thorough with the inspection and explained everything very well. The process of setting up the appointment, coordinating with all parties was seamless. The communication and respect was noticed and appreciated. I have used Linkhorn for many many home inspections and I will continue to do so. Thanks Linkhorn for the great service.

wilbur

21:42 08 Apr 22

Foundation issues not properly recognized costing thousands of dollars in immediate repairs needed to prevent full collapseElectric issues not properly recognized costing thousands of dollars in repairs, causing fires, and leaving my family unknowingly living in a very dangerous house. The grounding to the house was illegal, and not up to code and the electric was arcing to the roof, and had 4 feet of exposed wires to the elements. This electrical oversight led to destruction of my dryer, the line that ran to it, and the need to buy a new dryer.Also, the electrical outlet for the stove in the kitchen only had 110v at the outlet, when it needed 220v. This was also missed, causing me to not have a stove the first month I lived here.I am annoyed that the attic and insulation were not checked, even though my local vermin catcher and roofer both accessed the attic within 1 min of arrival. By the way, my insulation didn't even cover the flooring jointsThey will not honor money back guarantee. They seem to not care.This is my experience and will not ever recommend any of their services. In fact I advise you to runaway.The pictures are the outside electric exposed wires causing arcing and the foundation work being done to prevent full collapseTrenches had to be dug. Drainage had to be installed with a sump pump, and steel beams had to be installed for the foundation. All electrical from the pole to and including the fuse box need replaced due the the outside ILLEGAL wiring that was not caught upon inspection.EDIT-Denny Heard about my issues and made everything right. I am very pleased with the resolution that we came to. Thank you very much Denny. You have restored My confidence in your company!