If you are a Toronto-based building contractor, real estate agent, real estate investor or home inspector, you may be regularly in and out of buildings that could be home to mold, mildew and other potentially harmful bacteria. All of these can greatly affect the health and quality of life of your clients, tenants or renters.
If you only sell or work in brand-new builds or if you’re new on the job, you may not be as familiar with some of the crucial factors and signs to look for when assessing residential and commercial buildings.
We’re here to help!
Here are a few of our suggestions to help you detect mold when doing a walkthrough of a new building.
First, follow your nose.
If you can smell a persistent musty, mildew-y, stale or simply “off” smell in the air, it stands to reason that mold may be nearby. The nose knows! Mold may be visible (see below) or hidden, in which case hiring a Toronto mold remediation professional is always your best course of action.
Then, look for it.
Mold, especially in its advanced stages, can be visible to the naked eye. White, gray, green or black (which can be particularly dangerous) are some of the colours of mold to look for in basements, bathrooms, kitchens and other potentially warm and damp rooms of the subject building.
Next, know the history.
As a building professional working on behalf of your clients in Toronto real estate, home inspection or building contracting throughout the GTA, you probably have at least some knowledge of the building you’re visiting before you head inside.
Age, history of ownership, and past renovations may be some of the items you’ll be discussing with your client, buyer or seller.
But have you ever thought about asking about previous disasters?
Floods, storm damage or other onslaughts of the ever-unpredictable Mother Nature can obviously cause or worsen mold, mildew or bacterial growth. But not all sellers will be forthcoming with this information. Learning to ask the right questions and getting a full history of the subject properly can help you best represent your clients’ interests.
Finally, trust your gut and hire a mold testing professional. There is simply no substitute for a professional opinion! Hire a mold testing expert in the GTA to assess the building environment and its indoor air quality and you’ll help ensure your clients will be pleased with their purchase long after the ink is dry.
As a professional mold inspection, mold testing and mold removal services company working in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), we can perform all of the above during our walkthrough assessments. Free phone consultation. Contact us today to schedule yours!
