Maybe you’re moving into a new, but slightly run-down home? Perhaps your existing home has taken on water? Whatever the case may be, you’re considering a professional mold inspection.
But before you do, you want to get a feel for the expense. Fortunately, we can help you with that. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about mold inspection cost.
How Much Does a Mold Inspection Cost?
The cost of a mold inspection can vary based on a number of factors, including the type of inspection that’s carried out and the geographical area in which the inspection is being performed. That said, there are average statistics available.
Generally speaking, for a home under 4,000 square feet, you can expect a mold inspection to run between $300 and $400. For homes over 4,000 square feet, inspections can be anywhere from $400 to $600 and sometimes even more.
In short, the larger your house is, the more expensive your inspection will be. After all, it takes a longer time to inspect a 6,000 square foot house than it does to inspect a 3,000 square foot house.
Signs You Might Need a Mold Inspection
Now that you know the cost of a mold inspection, you might be wondering when one is necessary. We’ll discuss the primary signs of mold growth below.
Your Home Contains Musty Smells
Does your home possess a wet and musty smell? If so, there’s reason to believe that there’s mold in your home.
See mustiness is almost always caused by the existence of water. And where water exists, mold almost always grows. So, if there are, indeed, musty smells in your home, there are bound to be mold spores in your home also.
You Have Discolored Drywall
Do parts of your drywall appear to be stained and soggy? If so, it’s an almost certainty that they’ve experienced water damage.
Again, the existence of water indicates the existence of mold. So, where those water stains are positioned, there’s likely mold in close proximity.
The Humidity in Your Home is Unbearable
Maybe you run a dehumidifier all summer long? If so, there’s reason to believe that mold is growing in your home. Hot and humid areas are havens for mold spores, meaning that your home is almost certainly harboring some level of mold growth.
You Have Allergy Symptoms
Though not everyone is allergic to mold spores, a good many people are. As such, you need to keep an eye out for mold allergy symptoms.
These symptoms run the gamut from itchy eyes to a sore throat to sneezing to coughing to dry skin and the like. If these symptoms persist over time, there’s plenty of reason to believe that mold is the culprit.
Your Home Recently Flooded
Was your home recently subject to flooding? If so, there’s a very good chance that there’s mold growing within your walls, not to mention a variety of other water-related damage. Call someone out for an inspection sooner rather than later.
You’re Moving into a New Home
Generally speaking, when moving into a new home, it’s wise to have it inspected for mold. Even if it seems safe on the surface, its underlying structure could be inundated. A mold remediation company will be able to identify any existing spores, ensuring that your time in your new home starts off on the right foot.
What to Look for in a Mold Inspection Company
You’ve decided to hire a mold inspection company. The question is: which one should you hire? Generally speaking, high-quality mold inspection companies possess the following characteristics:
Experience
You don’t want to hire an inexperienced company. Make sure that your prospective mold inspector has at least 2 years of experience under its collective belt. In most cases, the more experience a company has, the higher quality of service it will provide.
A Good Reputation
When it comes to choosing new companies, reputation is just about everything. If a company has a positive reputation, it’s a relatively safe bet for consumers. If it has a negative reputation, it can reasonably be avoided.
Check review sites like Facebook, Yelp, and Google. These sites are loaded with reviews from past customers and will help to provide you with a good feel for the company’s strong suits and drawbacks. Ideally speaking, you’ll choose a company with at least 4 stars out of 5.
Insurance
When you utilize the services of a mold remediation company, you’re inviting that company and its employees into your home. Unfortunately, this can open you up to a range of different liability issues. Not only could you be held liable for damages that the company does to your home, but you could also be held liable for injuries that occur to the company’s employees on your property.
As such, when choosing a mold inspection company, you need to ask about insurance. Insured companies are safe companies to do business with, as their insurance policies will generally cover the costs of associated legal fees. Make sure that the company holds both general liability insurance, erros and omissions and workers’ compensation insurance.
Reasonable Rates
The truth is that different mold inspection companies levy different rates. Your goal is to choose a company whose rates fit within your budget.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you should choose the lowest rates possible (extremely low rates are often indicative of poor service or inexperience). However, you should compare different companies and see which ones suit your situation the best.
In Need of a Mold Inspection in Orlando, Florida?
Now that you know a thing or two about mold inspection cost, you might be ready to subject your home to a test. If so and if you’re in the Orlando, Florida area, we here at Elite Mold Services are the people to see.
We’re well-versed in the testing of mold, having tested countless homes throughout the Orlando area. If even the smallest traces of mold exist in your home, we’ll detect them.
Contact us now to get the process started!