Got my inspection report back yesterday and there's mold in the attic. Inspector said it looks like its from inadequate ventilation. The house is otherwise perfect for us - great location, good price, exactly what we wanted. But now im terrified. Is mold a dealbreaker? How much does remediation typically cost? The seller is being vague about it and my realtor says 'every house has issues' but this feels big.
8 Comments
Attic mold from ventilation issues is actually one of the more fixable problems you can have. The remediation cost depends on how widespread it is - small areas might be $500-1500, larger coverage could be $3000-6000. The key is fixing the ventilation issue first or it will come back. Get a remediation quote before making your decision.
is remediation something i should do before closing or can i ask the seller to handle it?
you can do either. personally id rather get a price reduction and hire my own remediation company after closing. that way you control the quality of work. if the seller does it they might go cheap.
We walked away from a house with mold and I kinda regret it. The market was so competitive we ended up paying 30k more for a house with different issues. Every house has something. If you love this house, get a remediation quote and negotiate. Mold isnt the monster people make it out to be when you catch it and fix it properly.
this is really helpful perspective, thank you. i think the word 'mold' just made me panic
The ventilation issue is the real concern here. Ask if the inspector can explain specifically whats causing it - bathroom exhaust venting into the attic? Not enough soffit vents? Ridge vent blocked? The mold is a symptom, fix the cause and it wont return.
Make sure you get quotes from actual mold remediation specialists, not just general contractors. We made that mistake and the mold came back within a year because they didnt seal properly. Cost us twice as much in the end.
just want to add - attic mold is extremely common in homes with poor ventilation or bathroom fans that vent into the attic instead of outside. its one of the most frequently found issues in inspections. fixing the ventilation usually costs $300-600 and the remediation can often be done with an encapsulation approach rather than full removal. definitely get quotes but dont assume worst case