“BOO!!!! This house has a mold problem…Oh no; we’re all going to die!!”

….Is a sure fire way to torpedo many a good deal, as just happened to one of my listings. So allow me to use my blog as a soap box from which I would like to set the record straight. (I have a slight suspicion that I speak for many of my peers)

Mold has become so overrated [with so much misinformation] ever since it was introduced for its commercial value a few years ago. Before mold awareness became fashionable we all grew up with mold and became perfectly normal healthy humans. With the exception of a very small minority whose immune system is sensitive to allergies. And with the necessary precautions even they can get along with mold.

Did you know that mold is so important to life that it fits into its own biological kingdom?  Scientists divided LIFE into six kingdoms and Fungi, a microorganism, to which Mold belongs is one of them. Animals, plants, bacteria et al makes up the rest. It is not my intention to lecture on the subject as I am not a microbiologist. But I can promise you a fascinating journey in discovering wonderful facts about an unknown world. “There are more species of fungi, bacteria and protozoa in a single scoop of soil than there are plants and vertebrate animals in North America”. Are the opening words of “Mycelium Running”, by Paul Stamets. An eye opening study to this microscopic world.

Without Mold, our world cannot exist. It comes in many shapes and sizes of which the mushroom is familiar. They are the decomposers of organic matter and symbiotic with plants and animals. We use it to make beer, antibiotics and a string of other everyday products. So why is there such a sporephobia?

 

I refer U to this site of the National Association of Realtors to read the general consensus for yourself.

http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/moldfaq

My opinion:

Is mold in a house a train smash? No, because there is not one house that is totally mold free, especially in Florida. Millions of Mold spores are all around us in the air and ground. We breathe them; we tramp on them as we walk. Without mold we cannot exist normally!

Should we test for Mold? A normal inspection by a competent Inspector will pick up obvious signs of mold. If the client is worried about hidden mold, a mold specialist can do the job at extra cost. Although they will generally do a thorough job, they have to cover themselves for a trivial lawsuit. So, make sure to read the disclaimer at the end of their report that they do not take responsibility for what is hidden behind the drywalls and such. There goes your complete peace of mind, unless you what to break down the house.

Should mold be treated? Absolutely! Although very little research has been done on the effects of mold on health, I think there is enough evidence that certain strains of mold referred to as toxic mold can be detrimental to your health; so err on the side of caution. But in all fairness, and I speak under correction if I say exposure must be extreme. Mold and damp are buddies, and it is prudent to keep your house damp free especially in the obvious places. No harsh measures are needed and ordinary soap and water with regular maintenance should do the trick.

In conclusion: It is really sad that so much misinformation for monetary gain is spread by unscrupulous practitioners in the mold industry. Fear for the unseen enemy is played to folks who have no idea of the subject to extract expensive and often unnecessary work. And don’t jump at me for saying this, because these malpractices do come out. There are excellent and quality companies out there who unfortunately get lumped with those who give the industry a bad name. So make sure you do your homework. But best of all: Educate yourself. Get all the facts, not just the scary ones.

Tags: lighthouse point properties, lighthouse point properties for sale, mold and treatment, PROPERTY MARKET, statistics real estate lighthouse point

 

I am responding to an email I received on my previous post (IS THE BUYERS MARKET OVER IN LIGHTHOUSE POINT?) in which I was criticized for comparing apples with grapes. Constructive criticism is always welcome as it keeps you sharp if you are prepared to evaluate it. So I went back to the available information and came up with this;

• There are about 50 or so foreclosure notices out in Lighthouse Point, including 11 auctions and 5 bank repossessions. These properties I have left out of the calculations because of its “volatile” and “mystical nature”. One can never rely on any information as there are continuous negotiations taking place in a very murky and under-reported world.

• I have also excluded the few for sale by owner properties and procured all my info from the MLS system which is dependable.

• Of the 136 properties listed, 72 are under a $million and 64 over a $million.

• In the last six months there were 55 closed sales in the under a $million category and 10 in the over a $million. That translates to an absorption rate (AR) of eight months for the first category and a whopping 42 months for the over a $million category.

• There is good news & bad news.

• The good news is that that buyers in the over a $million category have a smorgasbord of incredibly good deals to pick and choose from.

• The bad news is for buyers in the under $million category where inventory is lean. The choices are also less because that seems to be where the market is. Perhaps because that is also where the banks are prepared to stick their necks out for loans.

If one considers that Lighthouse Point has only some 3332 single residential houmes, then and inventory of 136 or 4% is really not significant. Are these figures indicative that the “toxic properties” are drying up? One can never know what is still in the closet, but the present figures bode well for listings that are priced correctly.