SANDUSKY, Ohio - With the incidences of detected household mold on the rise, it is more important than ever to have a qualified home inspector check for mold before buying any house.

“No matter how new or old the house is, it is important to have a qualified professional inspect the structure. This helps to determine whether or not there is a potential mold problem,” said Jon Fields, president of RestorePro.

Mold can hide in the most unlikely places, such as in attic trusses, wall cavities and anywhere water has seeped in. Often times the seller may not even be aware there has been a water intrusion, but an inspector looking for mold will be able to detect such a problem. Be sure to ask whether or not the inspector is trained to detect mold and has a relationship with an indoor air quality consultant and mold remediation contractor for testing and any required cleanup.

Having an inspection not only protects the party buying the house, but it also helps absolve the previous homeowners of any knowledge of mold growth before the sale. For example, if mold appears in the home six months after the new owners move in, having a clean inspection report will clearly show that there was no mold on the premises when the previous owners lived there, and will hopefully deter any liability claims that could arise.

“For several hundred dollars, a potential homebuyer can have an inspection performed and that could save them thousands of dollars in remediation costs later, if a house has a mold problem that is undetected,” Fields said.

RestorePro is an IICRC certified firm that specializes in structural drying water, fire and smoke damage restoration, mold remediation, sewage back-up remediation, carpet, upholstery and fabric cleaning, and other emergency disaster restoration service, including full reconstruction. RestorePro is also a member of WLI, NIDR, AIHA, ASCR, AIAQC, EEF, EAA, and IAQA.