Looking to purchase a house - mold

[UglyCasanova]

So i'm looking to purchase an older home that has been vacant for around a year. In the bathroom in a closet (the wall inside the closet opens up to the back of the tub, and instead of a waterproof seal there was a screen up) that has what looks to be mold growing. I don't think it is mildew, but black spots of mold. Not lots, but it is there. There is also some on the cealing by a vent in one bedroom, not a lot but just a small patch.

How serious is this and would this be a deal breaker for you? Like I said the house has been vacant for a year now and they haven't been running the ac at all. I don't see any signs of it coming out of the corners of the walls or anything, but there are those two spots.

 

[waggy]

it has mold? find a new house.

 

[Mixolydian]

Every house has mold.

 

[manimal]

Every house has mold.

theres mold and theres that shit that will kill you and your children in a fortnight.

 

[mrjminer]

I think you should get an inspector.

 

[Mixolydian]

theres mold and theres that shit that will kill you and your children in a fortnight.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I think you should get an inspector.

I had an inspection done today, but it was just your basic structural inspection. From what I understand I need a mold specialist to take samples and test to see if it is toxic. My contract was contingent on inspection coming back good, so I think as part of my counter now I'm going to ask they pay for a mold test.

And yeah I realize every house will have it, I just want to make sure it is the typical everyday stuff and not the toxic kind or that I have a bad infestation of it.

The house has sat vacant for a year now, I live in Louisiana where it is very humid, and the stupid owners left the ac completely off during that whole time. Ive walked through the house several times over the course of the past month and a half and saw the mold on the first walk through. It hasn't grown or spread any during that time frame, so I guess that's good. I just don't want that to be a health hazard or money pit..

 

[highland145]

theres mold and theres that shit that will kill you and your children in a fortnight.

This. Even if it's not the killer, there's water damage. There was a story on last week, the insurance co dicked around after a water leak, the fam wanted a couple mil, the jury gave them $30M.

You will have to get the mold tested to find out.

And yeah I realize every house will have it

AFIK, I do not.

 

[Grooveriding]

Eat your way through it and gain superpowers.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The mold itself is not a huge deal. It's the cause. It could turn into a huge project, or it might be something that got fixed, so it can be a gamble. Since it's in a bathroom it might even be a lack of ventilation and its water from the shower or something.

 

[Stopsignhank]

There is no such thing as "Toxic Mold."

Some people can have a reaction to mold, just like some people have allergies or hay fever.

CDC website about mold

 

[Red Squirrel]

There is no such thing as "Toxic Mold."

Some people can have a reaction to mold, just like some people have allergies or hay fever.

CDC website about mold

Mold can be dangerous, it may be natural but does not mean it's safe. That said I think some people overreact. Just spray some Benifect on it and wash it off or remove the material carefully while trying to avoid spores from going airborne. Keep it wet and you should be good. Mask is a good idea if dealing with a lot of it.