Mold is disgusting, but it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to sell your house. Learn how to sell a house with mold in Atlanta!
Mold is a common problem for many houses. Typically, the problem is cleaned up by professionals right away. However, some properties have much larger problems and need to simply be sold right away, as-is. It can prove to be difficult to find a buyer for a house with mold problems. Keep reading to learn more about our tips to sell a house with mold in Atlanta.
How Does Mold Affect Home Sales
Selling a home with mold is not something you want to mess around with. There are buyers that will bail out of a home sale at the first mention of mold discovered in a property!
Everyone is familiar with common household mold, the fungi that pop up in all kinds of moist environments. It grows on food left too long in the fridge, for instance.
Unfortunately for homeowners, it also grows in attics, bathrooms, basements and virtually any moist surface around your home.
If you see black spots developing on a wall in a poorly ventilated room, you are probably noticing the beginning stages of a mold problem.
Mold is all around you, generally in airborne spores searching for an ideal place to land and develop. In small amounts, it is not a problem, but when it finds a moist place in your home and you fail to notice it, it can quickly develop into a serious problem.
Clean Up Costs for a House with Mold
Cleaning up mold can be expensive. It isn’t always about what you can see, it is about what is growing inside of the walls. There are some aspects you can take care of yourself, such as scrubbing the mold from the walls, floors, and ceilings, however, there is often much more to deal with underneath the surface.
Cleanup and restoration companies can cost a fortune, but in many cases, their services are worth it. Once the job has been completed, schedule an inspection and get it in writing that the problem no longer exists.
Any porous or absorbent materials should be disposed of as it is near impossible to fully remove the mold spores. Do everything in your power to not come into direct contact with the mold. Breathing it in can cause serious health problems. Always use a mask and gloves when doing any of the cleanings yourself.
The level of infestation will directly affect your mold removal cost. The remediation cost of a crawlspace can really vary. It could be as little as $500 or as much as $4,000 depending on how big it is, and how much mold is present. If the attic and ducts are involved, the cost for those generally ranges from $2,000 to $6,000. If your home has been flooded and the mold is all throughout it, there is much more that has to be done. This could drive your remediation cost up to $10,000 – $30,000, or higher, depending on the size of your home.
Other Damages Mold Can Cause
Mold is caused by water and excessive moisture. If these conditions exist in your house, it is likely you are dealing with an even larger problem. Maybe you had a pipe burst or AC problems, or a small hidden leak, that has been dripping into your walls for months, rotting away the wood, drywall and compromising the structural integrity of the house. The damages can snowball and get expensive fast. Water damage is no joke. Once the cleanup has been completed, it is imperative you find the source of the problem so you can immediately put a stop to it!
Lawsuits from Selling a House with Mold
If a home buyer purchases your home and soon finds that there is a mold problem, there is a very good chance he or she could come after you with a lawsuit.
Whether you knew about the problem and failed to mention it, or you did not take the time and expense to determine if there was a problem before the sale, you may find yourself facing some heavy consequences. Again selling a home with mold is not something you want to take lightly!
Selling a House with Mold As Is
At Breyer Home Buyers, we have helped homeowners who were facing all kinds of difficult selling situations. We have seen it all and will help you by paying a fair and honest price for your house as is. even if you have mold and water damage.
Selling your house as-is is the easiest way to combat a problem with mold. We are ready to buy it right now so you can collect your proceeds from the sale and move on with your life.
Mold can be a huge hassle. It can lead to many other problems with your house if not taken care of correctly. By selling your house right away, you will no longer have to deal with the hassles and headaches.
Face Mold Head On
Mold is a fact of home ownership for most people. Like all sellers, you want to sell your home for as much as possible as quickly as possible. However, failing to deal with mold issues is asking for trouble, and could cause you problems long after the sale is supposedly over.
Keep in mind that if a buyer discovers mold in your home they are most likely going to ask you for remediation.
Don’t be stubborn enough to think that if you decide not to deal with the problem the next buyer will be fine with taking on a mold issue. That is highly unlikely and your real estate agent is going to be required to disclose this issue to any future buyers.
Address your mold problems head-on, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a clean and certain sale.
If You List Your House with Mold…
If you decide to list the house, it is important that you are upfront with your buyers. You will need to disclose any repaired or ongoing problems and the steps you have taken to remedy the situation. Obtain a Certification Of Repair and have the information as to what has been done at your immediate disposal. It is very important that you disclose everything to potential buyers as to avoid a lawsuit down the road.
Price Reductions for Mold
When selling your house with mold through a Realtor, if the buyer’s home inspector discovers a mold problem in your home, you will have difficulty getting the price you want for the home. The reduction in price will depend on the severity of the problem, but you have little hope of realizing your maximum asking price with a mold infestation.
Many times the discovery is enough to drive off buyers altogether. In fact, the chances of a buyer backing out of the sale are fairly high even if you agree to take care of the problem. Right or wrong, mold is one of those things that really spook home buyers.
Having mold in your home can pose a real threat to your ability to sell it the traditional way. If you would like an offer on your house, as it is right now, give our team a call to learn more about how we can help you. There is never any obligation.