Mold Inspection Before Selling Your Home in San Diego

1. Leave visible growth alone for now. Don't bleach it, paint over it or tear it out before it's been inspected. Covering it doesn't fix the moisture behind it.
2. Write down what you know: past leaks, plumbing or roof repairs and water claims, with rough dates.
3. Check the usual places: under sinks, around toilets, behind the washer, in the water heater closet and around windows.
4. If a buyer's inspection found mold, get a copy of the report and photos. We'll start where the inspector stopped.
5. Stop any active leak with a plumber's help, and dry up the water right away.
6. Talk with your agent about timing and disclosure, then schedule a free inspection.

Mold follows moisture. A spot on a baseboard or under a sink is usually the visible edge of a wet area behind a cabinet, inside a wall or under the flooring. If the source isn't found and fixed, cleaning the spot doesn't last, and a buyer's second inspection can find it again.

1. Free visual and moisture inspection. We use moisture meters and a thermal camera in the areas where mold usually starts. We tell you what we see and whether there's an active moisture source.
2. Lab sampling, when it makes sense. The EPA notes that when mold is visible, sampling usually isn't needed to decide on removal. Sampling helps when there's a musty smell and nothing visible, when it isn't clear whether a stain is mold, or when a buyer wants lab results. It's done by an independent third party.
3. Remediation to IICRC S520. Once the moisture source is repaired, we work inside containment with HEPA-filtered negative air to remove affected materials, clean and dry the area.
4. Independent clearance testing. We don't test our own work. A third party tests the area, and if it doesn't pass, we clean again and it's re-tested. What to expect from clearance testing.
5. Repairs. As a licensed contractor, we handle the drywall, paint, trim and cabinets. If flooring needs replacing, we coordinate it with an installer.

Documents you can share: inspection findings with photos and moisture readings, the scope of work, remediation records and the independent clearance report.

In California, sellers generally must disclose known material defects. Whether past or current mold or moisture problems need to be disclosed, and how, is a question for your real estate agent or attorney. We don't give legal advice. We give you an accurate record of what was found and what was done.

Mold that resulted from a recent sudden, covered water loss may fall under that claim. Mold from long-term leaks or humidity often isn't covered, and many policies limit mold coverage. Your policy decides. Read more: Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in California?

• Mira Mesa kitchen sink mold: the kitchen looked normal, but mold was hidden behind the sink base and dishwasher. We removed it to IICRC S520, it passed independent clearance on re-test, and we rebuilt.