How It Works:
Many Duct Cleaning companies are owned and operated by honest and reliable owners and they offer a valuable service. However, some “Duct Cleaners” or other untrained mold inspection service providers have perfected this scam.
They offer a very low “Duct Cleaning” service to get their foot in your door. When they show up to clean your ducts they offer you a free mold test OR they claim to find hidden mold in the duct work. They basically scare you into a very expensive “spray treatment” and sign you up for a regular “treatment service”. This is a very bogus and risky proposition.
How To Avoid It:
The best way to avoid this scam is to avoid using a service provider that uses “Instant Mold Tests” to conclusively determine if you have a mold problem or not. The manufacturers of these field test kits specifically state in their literature that a positive test result should be followed up with laboratory testing.
Furthermore the EPA specifically recommends AGAINST using a biocide as the sole source of remediation. The biocide used by these scam artists may be much more dangerous than the mold that it is being used to control. The EPA recommends “physical removal” of any mold or mold damaged building materials.
Another interesting note is that many modern homes use a vinyl or plastic “flex duct” that will not even support mold growth, but can also be damaged by improper duct cleaning. If you are going to use a firm to clean your ducts make sure that they are a National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) member and verify this yourself online – don’t take their word for it.
We have had reports from consumers that these con-men always seems like the nicest and most believable guys in the industry.
For more information on this and other scams: Please see "Mold Scams and Fraudulent Mold Practices".
For more information concerning mold and other indoor air quality issues please visit the AMI Environmental Testing Northwest, Inc. website or call us at 503.383.9457.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
MOLD SCAM ALERT!
Over the past several weeks we have been receiving calls for a “second opinion” by people that have had a "mold inspection" done by companies that are trying to sell a spraying service/product that “gets rid of mold” - THIS IS A SCAM!
There are several common things that these folks all said take place:
1. The "mold" is found in the attic or somewhere else where you won't be able to see it.
2. The original cause & source (such as damaged plumbing, leaky roof, etc.) of the mold growth is not mentioned or addressed.
3. They have been shown by the inspector a "whitish" residue supposedly found in the attic and told that it was mold "mutating" into another type of mold... typically "toxic black mold".
4. They have been told by the "inspector" that "everything needs to be torn out and replaced OR you can buy my (the supposed mold inspector) product and have my company come in and spray the area.”
5. None of the required testing needed to determine the presence of a mold issue or scope of any problem is done; just showing the "mold" to the potential client and pitching the spray product and service.
Here are a few of the facts:
1. Indoor mold growth is caused by a water intrusion in the home that shouldn’t happen. Causes are typically (but not limited to) conditions such as a plumbing problem, leaky roof, poorly sealed or damaged windows & doors, etc. Without addressing the original source & cause of the water intrusion the mold will just come back no matter what you do.
2. Molds do not mutate into other species of mold. Yes, molds can change within the nature of their own species, but they don't mutate into other species.
3. Proper inspection AND testing are required to provide the correct and comprehensive information about any potential mold issues.
4. The goal of any proper mold remediation is NEVER to kill the mold - it's to GET RID of it! Dead mold can be as damaging to a persons health as viable mold. Simply spraying or painting something on mold will not get rid of it.
5. To avoid conflicts of interest, reputable and trustworthy home inspectors & mold inspectors will usually not also be in the business of fixing the problems they find.
Click on the following link for more information on common mold scams, or call us at any time if you have any questions.
AMI Environmental Testing Northwest, Inc. is an independent Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) service that has nearly a decade of experience and customer satisfaction to bring to your service. Call us today at (503) 383-9457 and we’ll be glad to speak with you about how we can help you.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
What Real Estate Brokers and Financiers Need to Know About Mold Inspections & Testing.
Sellers that order their own mold inspection & testing are more likely to make more on the sale of their property than if they leave it to the potential buyer to have done.
- We’re all familiar with the old saying that “knowledge is power.” If the seller knows what is going on with their property they have the ability to retain more power in negotiations.
- If the seller decides to be proactive with this knowledge they can maintain control over the cost of fixing any problems found and turn it into equity.
- If a buyer finds a problem, it can put the seller in a situation where they are under duress to get it fixed without the time to find the right contractors – leaving them more vulnerable to spending more money than they really need to or being outright scammed.
If your client is the buyer: You should recommend that they have a mold inspection & testing done by a certified, independent environmental testing firm.
- Because of the potential health risks and the certainty of property damage associated with indoor mold growth – it’s just a matter of common sense.
- The small investment in detecting & measuring any potential problems is well worth the thousands of dollars that can be saved by finding the problems early enough and the information required to properly assess repair estimates and choose the right contractors for the job.
- Because of the potential health risks and the certainty of property damage associated with indoor mold growth – it’s just a matter of common sense. (No… repeating this isn’t a typo.)
Because, more often than not, mold problems are hidden and require special equipment & testing to detect and measure: Most home inspectors “don’t do mold” because it’s not within the proper scope of their job.
- A mold inspection & testing is a specialized profession that should work in concert with a home inspection. A certified, independent mold inspection & testing should always be a routine part of any real estate transaction.
- There are still a few home inspectors out there who will “poo poo” the need for a mold inspection or tell you, “That whole mold thing is a scam.” If your home inspector tells you that: Ask him to put that in writing in his report and see what happens! Again, this applies to only the few. Most home inspectors understand the scope of their job and have enough knowledge about the potential problems associated with indoor mold growth to recommend a mold inspection be performed.
- Good home inspectors & mold inspectors will work together to ensure their clients receive all the facts they need to make the right decisions at the right time.
Remember: “Independent & Certified.”
- Due to the fact that mold is everywhere in our environment and it varies by region, weather conditions, etc. and that different people react to mold differently: There is no possible way that a set standard for “acceptable mold levels” can correctly be made. An Indoor Air Quality Professional certified by recognized organizations and trained in the most current and best industry standards understands the proper scope and limitations of mold growth issues.
- Due to potential conflict of interests: An environmental testing firm that is not also engaged in or “in cahoots” with a business of fixing the problems they find is essential. Why expose yourself or your clients to the possibility of getting scammed?
- A “free mold inspection” will end up costing you more in the end by charging you more for the samples to cover their cost of inspecting and/or finding problems that don’t really exist and/or exaggerating problems that do exist to make more profit on the remediation contract.
- Of course, we’d all like to believe that everybody is honest and trustworthy, but not everybody is. Again, it’s just common sense.
AMI Environment Testing Northwest, Inc. is the independent, certified IAQ industry leader serving
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Mold in Foreclosed, Vacant Properties
As the number of vacant bank-owned properties rises, the link between foreclosure and mold keeps growing. The recent downturn in real estate has led to a growing number of vacant or abandoned homes owned by the mortgage holders that have serious mold problems.
Mold infestation in vacant properties is a serious problem throughout the country. Water, sewage, flooding and leaking problems go untreated when the homeowner is not there to notice and fix them. Even without the event of a major water intrusion many vacant houses—especially in areas with high humidity—can develop mold problems due to factors such as poor ventilation, lack of regular housecleaning, etc.
It also stands to reason that even if the previous owner knew they had a problem that they, more than likely, did not get it inspected or fixed properly while they were in the foreclosure process or planning to abandon the property.
Mold problems or even the suspicion of one can potentially scare away buyers! Most people just are not educated about mold. Chances are, though, that they’ve seen a news story on the television or read an article about “toxic mold” or “black mold” and that’s the extent of their knowledge of the subject. Whether the stories they’ve heard are exaggerated or not, the end result is the same – they’d rather just not bother going through the process of buying a house that has, or may have, a mold problem.
Even if a buyer isn’t scared away a mold problem or potential mold problem can drive the price of a property. Because mold growth not detected and repaired early enough can quickly add up to thousands of dollars of damage to take care of you can be sure that it will be a major factor in the price negotiations.
If history is any indication we will likely see more lawsuits brought by buyers that have purchased bank-owned properties and found a mold issue. Frivolous or not, lawsuits cost a lot of time and money for all involved to come to a settlement – a lot of time and money that might not have to be wasted if there are documented actions that can show due diligence to detect and remedy any mold problems by hiring professionals certified in the mold industry.
These are a few good reasons why it is important to have a mold inspection done by an independent, certified mold inspector first to find out whether there is a problem and what the scope of the problem is.
1. Ordering a mold inspection by an independent, certified mold inspection & testing service helps ensure that there is no conflict of interest presented by an inspection service that is also in the business of fixing the problems it can find.
2. For all parties involved in a real estate transaction, knowing the “what, where and why” of a mold problem can save headaches and money over the long run. Get the full picture in a timely manner, preferably before any price negotiations so that you can enter negotiations with the information you need.
3. By acting and showing “due diligence”, you can help avoid any future legal issues surrounding mold issues.
AMI Environmental Testing Northwest, Inc. is an independent Indoor Air Quality service that has nearly a decade of experience and customer satisfaction to bring to your service. Call us today at (503) 383-9457 and we’ll be glad to speak with you about how we can help you.
Mold infestation in vacant properties is a serious problem throughout the country. Water, sewage, flooding and leaking problems go untreated when the homeowner is not there to notice and fix them. Even without the event of a major water intrusion many vacant houses—especially in areas with high humidity—can develop mold problems due to factors such as poor ventilation, lack of regular housecleaning, etc.
It also stands to reason that even if the previous owner knew they had a problem that they, more than likely, did not get it inspected or fixed properly while they were in the foreclosure process or planning to abandon the property.
Mold problems or even the suspicion of one can potentially scare away buyers! Most people just are not educated about mold. Chances are, though, that they’ve seen a news story on the television or read an article about “toxic mold” or “black mold” and that’s the extent of their knowledge of the subject. Whether the stories they’ve heard are exaggerated or not, the end result is the same – they’d rather just not bother going through the process of buying a house that has, or may have, a mold problem.
Even if a buyer isn’t scared away a mold problem or potential mold problem can drive the price of a property. Because mold growth not detected and repaired early enough can quickly add up to thousands of dollars of damage to take care of you can be sure that it will be a major factor in the price negotiations.
If history is any indication we will likely see more lawsuits brought by buyers that have purchased bank-owned properties and found a mold issue. Frivolous or not, lawsuits cost a lot of time and money for all involved to come to a settlement – a lot of time and money that might not have to be wasted if there are documented actions that can show due diligence to detect and remedy any mold problems by hiring professionals certified in the mold industry.
These are a few good reasons why it is important to have a mold inspection done by an independent, certified mold inspector first to find out whether there is a problem and what the scope of the problem is.
1. Ordering a mold inspection by an independent, certified mold inspection & testing service helps ensure that there is no conflict of interest presented by an inspection service that is also in the business of fixing the problems it can find.
2. For all parties involved in a real estate transaction, knowing the “what, where and why” of a mold problem can save headaches and money over the long run. Get the full picture in a timely manner, preferably before any price negotiations so that you can enter negotiations with the information you need.
3. By acting and showing “due diligence”, you can help avoid any future legal issues surrounding mold issues.
AMI Environmental Testing Northwest, Inc. is an independent Indoor Air Quality service that has nearly a decade of experience and customer satisfaction to bring to your service. Call us today at (503) 383-9457 and we’ll be glad to speak with you about how we can help you.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The High Cost of a "Free" Mold Inspection
Many people are lured by the advertisements for "free" mold inspection that many mold remediation contractors offer. But the truth is that these "free" inspections often become extremely--and unnecessarily--expensive!
What happens is that the company will send out an inspector for "free", then they will tell you that there is no way of telling you that you have a mold problem or not without taking samples. Now, that is true - sampling is the only way to tell if there is a problem (see my post "I Don't See Any Mold") and how big the problem may be. Then they overcharge for the samples. One company I inquired with charged $350 for the first two air samples and $175 per sample after that - And yes, I'm aware that the math works out to six of one/half a dozen of the other; but that's the great deal on samples I was told about by the lady on the phone. For comparison & full disclosure: My company and many other independent environmental testing firms charge $250 for an inspection and $100 per sample if needed.
Now you may be thinking that there's not a big difference in those price figures, however, independent environmental testing firms are not in the business of securing expensive remediation contracts. There is no incentive to find or exaggerate problems as there is for remediation companies offering "free" mold inspections. Now, am I saying that all remediation companies operate like this? No. But it isn't uncommon. Like in anything: removing the temptation factor is always the wisest course of action.
Too often I've been called for a "second opinion" inspection and found that the problem wasn't as bad--or expensive--as the "free" inspection found. I also get to hear many stories from people about how they got scammed by contractors by "free" mold inspections.
Mold is an issue that should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scam-artists out there trying to make a quick buck from people by scaring and misinforming them. To avoid being taken advantage off when you think you may have a mold problem always look for independent inspection & testing firms and remediation contractors that are not also in the inspection & testing business.
I and my associates take pride in our work. We make sure that we always treat our clients respectfully and professionally. It bothers us when we see people out there taking advantage of people. So we want to inform you and "call out" the scam-artists.
If you would like more information, please see "Mold Scams and How to Avoid Them". Don't hesitate to contact me via email or telephone if you need to talk to someone to see if you may be getting scammed. Even if you're not in our service area... we're here to help and may be able to refer you to someone in your local area that will treat you right.
What happens is that the company will send out an inspector for "free", then they will tell you that there is no way of telling you that you have a mold problem or not without taking samples. Now, that is true - sampling is the only way to tell if there is a problem (see my post "I Don't See Any Mold") and how big the problem may be. Then they overcharge for the samples. One company I inquired with charged $350 for the first two air samples and $175 per sample after that - And yes, I'm aware that the math works out to six of one/half a dozen of the other; but that's the great deal on samples I was told about by the lady on the phone. For comparison & full disclosure: My company and many other independent environmental testing firms charge $250 for an inspection and $100 per sample if needed.
Now you may be thinking that there's not a big difference in those price figures, however, independent environmental testing firms are not in the business of securing expensive remediation contracts. There is no incentive to find or exaggerate problems as there is for remediation companies offering "free" mold inspections. Now, am I saying that all remediation companies operate like this? No. But it isn't uncommon. Like in anything: removing the temptation factor is always the wisest course of action.
Too often I've been called for a "second opinion" inspection and found that the problem wasn't as bad--or expensive--as the "free" inspection found. I also get to hear many stories from people about how they got scammed by contractors by "free" mold inspections.
Mold is an issue that should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scam-artists out there trying to make a quick buck from people by scaring and misinforming them. To avoid being taken advantage off when you think you may have a mold problem always look for independent inspection & testing firms and remediation contractors that are not also in the inspection & testing business.
I and my associates take pride in our work. We make sure that we always treat our clients respectfully and professionally. It bothers us when we see people out there taking advantage of people. So we want to inform you and "call out" the scam-artists.
If you would like more information, please see "Mold Scams and How to Avoid Them". Don't hesitate to contact me via email or telephone if you need to talk to someone to see if you may be getting scammed. Even if you're not in our service area... we're here to help and may be able to refer you to someone in your local area that will treat you right.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Bleach May Actually Make The Mold Worse
The use of Chlorine Bleach has been a common recommendation for cleaning and killing mold. However, the fact is that bleach is not an effective chemical for killing colonized mold. It may be effective on hard, non-porous surfaces such as shower walls or countertops, but so are other milder, less noxious, solutions using other detergents. Because non-porous surfaces do not allow the mold to take root into the material itself, the mold is actually growing on dust and other debris that may be on the surface and will typically wipe off with ease.
Both OSHA and the EPA have determined that bleach should not be used in mold remediation. True, the EPA used to recommend the use of a bleach solution to clean mold, but has since removed that recommendation.
The goal of mold remediation is to get rid of the mold; not kill it! Dead mold can still release spores into the air and the concentration of mold spores in the air is the main potential for health problems. If you see visible mold growth on building materials, the chances are that there is more that you cannot see (see the post title “I Don’t See Any Mold”). It is best to hire a certified mold inspector to assess the situation and help you decide the proper plan for remediation.
Monday, November 30, 2009
A Mold Inspection Might Actually Save A Real Estate Deal
Recently a client was referred by her real estate agent and called me to do a mold inspection on a property that she was considering making an offer on. She reported that while she and her investment partner were touring the property they noticed an "overwhelming moldy odor" throughout the house. They wanted an inspection & testing done prior to making an offer so they could take the findings into consideration for the offer or--if it turned out really bad--decide not even to make an offer in the first place.
There were several "red flag conditions" I found that prompted me to recommend air samples. As suspected - the lab results came back confirming an indoorspore count over 10 times higher than the control sample taken outdoors at the same time. I wrote up and sent my inspection report and the lab results to my client along with my recommendations of the proper types of contractors to consult for further investigation. After sending the report I offered my standard post-report consultation with the client.
Now, there are several reasons I always offer and hope to do a post-report consultation with my clients. Among them is the fact that there are a lot of myths out there concerning mold, and elevatedspore counts represented in raw data may appear terrifying without a client being able to ask questions and get answers about the data. In this particular case: The client was "scared off" from making an offer on the property without a second thought or further investigation... initially.
However, during our post-report consultation on the phone I was able to answer several of her questions. I went over the fact that the conditions I had found during the inspection were typical in a home of that age and location and that she needed to contact the proper contractors to provide estimates for repairing the issues and that all of them were repairable. The only consideration that she and her investment partners had to take into consideration was what they were willing and able to do in the way of remodeling the home. The final decision, of course, was up to them to decide what to offer and if their budget and time would allow for the repairs estimated by the contractors.
It happened that, based on the initial mold inspection report along with the recommendations of the proper contractors, they decided to make an offer on the property after all. My client told me that this was all due to the "education" she received from AMI Northwest and the other contractors she talked to after my report. She added that, "nobody has ever taken the time to talk to me like you did in all my other property deals. It's great to understand things about mold that you don't hear in all the hype about it!"
So, why am I telling you about all this? Because I routinely run into sellers and real estate agents that believe any mold inspection will "kill the deal." That's not true. As we like to say: "Mold inspections don't kill deals; mold inspectors do!" So the trick is to find the right mold inspector. How can you tell whether you've found the right mold inspector? Well, there are no guarantees, but look for these qualifications to help:
1. -Independent: To remove the potential bias of findings, make sure your mold inspection service isn't also in the business of mold remediation or "in bed" with any mold remediation companies.
2. Certified: Make sure your mold inspector is certified by associations recognized by the IAQ industry and are trained to follow industry standards for inspection and sampling.
Obviously, this is not an exhausted list of qualifications since it would overreach the purpose of a blog. Here is a more complete list of "Mold Scams" and how to avoid them.
There were several "red flag conditions" I found that prompted me to recommend air samples. As suspected - the lab results came back confirming an indoor
Now, there are several reasons I always offer and hope to do a post-report consultation with my clients. Among them is the fact that there are a lot of myths out there concerning mold, and elevated
However, during our post-report consultation on the phone I was able to answer several of her questions. I went over the fact that the conditions I had found during the inspection were typical in a home of that age and location and that she needed to contact the proper contractors to provide estimates for repairing the issues and that all of them were repairable. The only consideration that she and her investment partners had to take into consideration was what they were willing and able to do in the way of remodeling the home. The final decision, of course, was up to them to decide what to offer and if their budget and time would allow for the repairs estimated by the contractors.
It happened that, based on the initial mold inspection report along with the recommendations of the proper contractors, they decided to make an offer on the property after all. My client told me that this was all due to the "education" she received from AMI Northwest and the other contractors she talked to after my report. She added that, "nobody has ever taken the time to talk to me like you did in all my other property deals. It's great to understand things about mold that you don't hear in all the hype about it!"
So, why am I telling you about all this? Because I routinely run into sellers and real estate agents that believe any mold inspection will "kill the deal." That's not true. As we like to say: "Mold inspections don't kill deals; mold inspectors do!" So the trick is to find the right mold inspector. How can you tell whether you've found the right mold inspector? Well, there are no guarantees, but look for these qualifications to help:
1. -Independent: To remove the potential bias of findings, make sure your mold inspection service isn't also in the business of mold remediation or "in bed" with any mold remediation companies.
2. Certified: Make sure your mold inspector is certified by associations recognized by the IAQ industry and are trained to follow industry standards for inspection and sampling.
Obviously, this is not an exhausted list of qualifications since it would overreach the purpose of a blog. Here is a more complete list of "Mold Scams" and how to avoid them.
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