Can you Sell a House with Mold In California?

Selling a House with Mold In California?

Imagine this: you’re getting ready to sell your home, so you examine your basement. You spot a dark mark on the wall and ceiling, along with a foul smell in the air, like damp socks and decaying wood.

You realize, with growing concern, that you’re dealing with a mold problem. Your once ideal home has become a troublesome property.

Mold is a tiny organism that breaks down organic material and enriches the environment with nutrients. Moisture, air, and materials like drywall, wallpaper, insulation, and wood can promote mold growth.

If left unaddressed, mold can lead to various health issues, and in severe cases, it can even compromise the structural stability of your home.

Can You Sell Your House with Mold Issues?

The short answer is YES, you can sell your house with mold issues.

Selling a house with mold might seem okay legally, but it could cause issues for buyers trying to secure financing. Cash buyers are your best bet if you’re not fixing the mold problem. 

You have to tell buyers about the mold, whether they’re paying cash or not. 

Even though mold is common, finding it in your home can be a nightmare. There are thousands of mold species across the US, according to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). 

But having mold doesn’t mean you’re a bad homeowner. Mold spores are everywhere, but they only grow where there’s moisture.

Moist areas are perfect for mold. The more moisture, the worse the mold can get.

Getting a professional mold inspection before selling can save you trouble later on. Fixing mold issues early can prevent more damage.

Mold can make selling your house harder. It’s best to remove it and fix any other problems before looking for a buyer. This way, buyers needing financing won’t have trouble getting approved.

What are the Signs of a Mold Problem?

As mold thrives in damp, stuffy areas, check spots in your house where moisture collects. These spots include basements, crawl spaces, attics, AC ducts, areas under the washer or behind water heaters and tanks, and other hidden, hard-to-reach spots.

Black mold, also called toxic mold, can be easily spotted. It can look like spots on your walls or ceilings. It’s greenish-black, with a rough, fuzzy surface and a distinct musty smell. You can see mold growing on walls with cracks from moisture seepage (like in flooded basements), tile grout, carpets, and ceilings.

Mold can also make a house smell musty. Like old gym socks, the smell in the air can indicate mold growing inside your walls.

What are the dangers of mold? According to the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), infrared cameras can detect mold invisible to the naked eye.

Signs of mold include wall and ceiling discoloration. You can use a flashlight to find these problem areas.

If you suspect mold, call a home inspector right away. Spending a few hundred dollars on a mold inspection is worth it, whether mold is found or not. On average, a home inspection costs $675.

If mold is found, you can make plans to address it. Remember, you don’t have to fear mold. You can fix the problem and find a buyer willing to pay a good price for your home.

If no mold is found, your home gets a clean bill of health. You can show this to potential buyers to reassure them when buying your home.

What are the Hazards of Mold?

Different types of mold can affect your home in different ways but they can be dangerous all the same.

Present Mold Issues is Harmful to Health

Exposure to mold can be risky for health. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that mold can lead to coughing, congestion, sore throat, eye irritation, and skin problems. It may also worsen asthma and cause severe allergies. In severe cases, individuals with weak immune systems can develop respiratory infections due to mold exposure.

Mold can Affect Your Home’s Structural Integrity

Dry rot is a specie of mold that feeds on the cellulose and moisture found in wood. It can cause structural damage which can result in costly repairs.

Identifying this issue can be trickier than spotting black mold because it initially appears as a fine orange dust, often mistaken for sawdust. Increased moisture worsens the situation by promoting mold growth until it forms visible clusters, releasing more spores.

Eliminating this mold is pricier as it requires removing all affected wood and spores completely. This entails hiring not just a mold removal specialist but also a general contractor, especially if significant structural fixes are needed. Regularly checking for dry rot is advisable.

Neglecting prompt mold treatment and allowing dry rot to persist can weaken essential structural parts like beams and columns, leading to a gradual loss of strength.

This neglect could result in substantial repair expenses, potentially reaching tens of thousands of dollars, and pose serious safety risks, including the possibility of structural collapse.

It is recommended that mold removal be done by professionals to ensure the problem does not come back.

What are the Causes of Mold Growth?

Mold grows in an environment that can provide it with moisture, oxygen, and a food source such as wood and drywall insulation.

A big water leak, like a flood, can leave water in corners and spaces of your house, making it perfect for mold to grow.

If a roof leaks and isn’t fixed quickly, moisture can get into the beams and ceiling supports, leading to wood decay that may become serious structural issues later.

Other things that can cause mold are humidifiers, bathrooms and basements without windows, bad airflow, wet crawl spaces, and pipes and plumbing that break.

Regular home inspections can enable you to nip the mold growth in the bud and prevent it from transforming into a problem beyond your control.

What to Do About Mold Spores?

Mold spores get into the home by way of windows, doors, vents, and heating and air-conditioning systems.

Indoor mold usually isn’t harmful unless it’s in a damp spot. It’s not a threat to healthy people.

But if it gets moisture in your house, like from a flood or leak, mold can grow fast, sometimes within a day. If there’s a flood or big leak, focus on drying everything out first.

Dealing with mold early is easier, cheaper, and less damaging.

The Environmental Protection Agency says if the moldy area is less than 10 square feet, you can clean it up yourself with a scrub brush and bleach.

Wear protective gear like gloves, an N-95 mask, and goggles when scrubbing mold. But doing it yourself might not fix stains from black mold, so you may still need pros to handle cosmetic issues and fix the real problem.

If the mold problem is too extensive, you must leave it to the pros. Mold remediation companies charge between $13 to $28 per square feet.

How Do You Prevent the Growth of Mold?

As per CDC guidelines, post-mold removal in your property, it’s required to fix the environment to hinder mold resurgence.

Start by eliminating moisture and using dehumidifiers.

Fix roof leaks and waterproof basements to prevent moisture infiltration.

Enhance airflow and ventilation by installing exhaust fans in basements and bathrooms to expedite moisture evaporation, thus reducing dampness. When cleaning, utilize mold-killing solutions.

Dispose of soaked carpets and upholstery to eliminate mold-friendly conditions.

Can Mold Affect Your Home’s Market Value?

If you discover mold on the outside of your house, it shouldn’t lower its worth. Mold on the outside also shouldn’t cause many health or building worries. But for the sake of making your home look good from the street, it’s wise to get rid of the mold to stop it from spreading and causing trouble.

However, if you find mold inside, especially in places that are supposed to stay dry like ceilings, walls, and floors, it’s a big problem. Some potential buyers are immediately put off when they learn about a mold problem.

Ongoing mold problems can decrease a home’s value by up to 23%, says financial expert Jack Schoppa. In certain situations, like in California, visible mold growth can instantly label your home as below standard.

Should You Undertake Mold Remediation?

If you’d like to get a fair price for your home, it is recommended to hire a professional mold remediation company to eliminate the problem and prevent further mold damage.

Selling a House with a Mold Problem

Selling houses in perfect condition can be challenging depending on the real estate market. But selling a house with mold? It can be scary, but doable. Here are 3 options on how you can go about selling your home with mold issues:

Option #1: Fix the Mold Issues then
List with a Real Estate Agent

Before listing your house for sale, it’s required to fix any mold issues first. You don’t want potential buyers to connect your home with ongoing mold problems, as this can delay the selling process.

Once the mold has been treated, ensure that any black mold has been completely eradicated by arranging for a professional inspection and documenting the results.

Traditional buyers typically prefer homes that are ready to move into without needing repairs. Therefore, aside from mold treatment, it’s essential to hire a trusted contractor to handle any necessary repairs and renovations, ultimately maximizing your home’s sale price.

If you opt for a traditional sale through a real estate agent, they can assist in pricing your home accurately and recommending enhancements to enhance its value and appeal. Additionally, they will manage the entire transaction process, from negotiations to closing.

However, it’s important to note that this convenience comes with fees such as commissions. After factoring in the initial mold treatment and subsequent renovations, your overall profit may be lower than expected.

Alternatively, you can consider selling your house yourself through the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) route. While this gives you complete control over the process, it also means you’ll be responsible for marketing, negotiating, and closing the deal on your own.

Option #2: Drop the Price then List
with a Real Estate Agent

Sometimes, even if you can pay for removing mold, you may not have enough money left to fix other home problems like fixing the roof, waterproofing the basement, or repairing plumbing.

In this situation, it could be smart to drop the selling price. That way, you can give the buyer money to cover the fixes they’ll need to do after buying your house.

Remember, while this may raise your home’s value compared to selling it as-is, you’ll still have to cover costs like the real estate agent’s fees, listing fees, staging costs, and other related expenses if you sell traditionally.

Option #3: Sell As-Is to a
Real Estate Investor

If you lack time, money, or energy to fix mold and other issues in your home, a real estate investor can help. They’ll buy your home quickly, giving you cash to move elsewhere in just 7 days.

Selling to investors is the fastest way to get cash for your moldy home without lifting a finger. Unlike traditional sales, you can leave mold problems behind when dealing with cash buyers.

Investors target problem properties below market value. They factor repair costs into their cash offer, ensuring a fair deal for everyone.

Cash buyers take homes as-is, no matter the condition: leaks, mold, floods, contamination – you name it.

When selling a moldy home, be careful who you choose. Some buyers may try to scam you. Research the market and get offers from multiple investors.

Tips on Selling a House with Mold Issues

Disclose Mold Right Away

Real estate transactions require trust. Many states’ laws demand revealing mold because of its risks. Failing to share this info can lead to legal trouble for sellers if it’s shown that the mold issue existed before.
Moreover, even after mold removal, some states require sellers to tell buyers about it. It’s wise to be honest upfront about this for goodwill.

Offer Credit to the Buyer for Mold Remediation

Even though the buyer can’t force you to handle the problem, you could foot the bill for mold removal to boost the appeal of the sale. But, most retail buyers will need a loan, and banks typically won’t green-light a loan for a home with mold issues. This strategy is best for a cash buyer.

Rehabilitate your House after Mold Remediation

If you’re planning to sell on the market, it is important to get to the root cause of the mold issues before listing. Making the repairs so it doesn’t cause problems later on, or worse, return with a vengeance, is recommended.

Getting your House Ready for the Sale

1. Start with a visual inspection

Prior to listing a house, conduct a comprehensive visual inspection, beginning with the basement and other moisture-prone zones like bathrooms, laundry rooms, crawl spaces, and the attic. Scrutinize every corner for any indications of pest presence.

2. Do the repairs if you can

Get rid of the mold with a scrub brush and bleach. Fix the areas with mold to stop it from growing. If there are stains, just paint over them.

If it’s too much for you to handle, get experts in mold removal and renovation to deal with it.

3. Have your home inspected by a professional

Mold inspectors have tools and equipment that can detect mold that you may have missed. An inspection report showing that your house is free of mold is also beneficial in reassuring potential buyers that your home’s moldy past is far behind.

4. Keep all documentation

Having a record of all mold-related repairs performed on the house is helpful to give to buyers. This lets you disclose mold legally and transparently to avoid issues after the sale.

Final Thoughts: Can You Sell a House With Mold in California?

Selling a house with mold is tough if you’re using a real estate agent—regular buyers can’t get loans unless you fix the mold issues. But if you’re okay with getting a cash offer from local property investors, you can sell a moldy house as-is.

At JiT Home Buyers, we can give you a fast, no-obligation cash offer. We buy all types of properties—in any condition. Cracked walls? Moldy basements? Mold from a leaky roof? Just let us know, and we’ll make you a cash offer!

We cover closing expenses, and unlike dealing with an agent, we don’t take a commission. Our closing can be as quick as 7 days.

We know time is crucial when dealing with mold. Our team is ready 24/7, so call us to talk about how we can help you sell your home with mold issues. (510) 473-5885

The Easiest Way To Sell Your House Fast In California

You’re in the driver’s seat when you accept our cash offer for your house. We make the process simple, fast, and easy to follow when working with us. You have no obligation to accept our cash offer for your home when contacting us for a fair cash offer for your home. No matter the reason you want to sell your house, we want to buy your home as is. Remember that you get many benefits that include no real estate agent commissions, no cleaning, no improvements, and no stress. Our cash offer for your as-is house assures you of fast cash payment at closing with a reputable Title company. You can count on our company to give you a fair cash offer for your home! If you’re still thinking, “I need to sell my house fast”, calling us could be your best decision all day. 🙂