The presence of mold, black spots on your kitchen walls, bathrooms, or basement in your South Florida home can be worrying. There's a high chance that it's mold. Although they might be microbial in size, they can wreak havoc on your South Florida home if left untreated.
Mold growth can also be a big problem if you're looking to put your South Florida house on the market. Nothing will scare buyers away from purchasing their dream home in South Florida more than a musty smell and signs of mold growth.
Whether you're a South Florida homeowner looking to keep their house in tip-top shape or you're trying to sell your house in the recent future, knowing how to deal with mold and how to prevent its growth is something everyone should learn about. A good scrub with some mild soap won't be enough to get rid of mold in your South Florida home. This remedy might work on hard surfaces but not on porous ones. In this article, our experts at Safe Home are going to discuss what mold is, the dangers of mold, how it affects the sale of your South Florida home, and how you can prevent mold growth.
What is Mold?
Mold is diverse. They come in various shapes and sizes and are defined as microorganisms in the fungi kingdom. They come from the same family of mushrooms and yeast. However, unlike yeast in our bread and baked goods, mold is not edible. Consuming them can make you ill.
Mold can spread incredibly quickly, and they're invisible to the naked eye due to their small sizes. A mold spore is only around 10 microns long, and it's impossible to keep them from entering your South Florida home.
Main Cause of Mold Growth
Even though mold spores are all around us, they don't randomly grow and stain your walls. It takes three things for mold to grow and become a problem— material to grow on, warmth, and moisture.
Most cases of mold growth come from the presence of moisture such as leaks, damp spots in the home, high humidity, or water damage. Mold needs little help to grow. A little bit of water and some warmth will surely help them thrive.
Effects of Mold
Mold can be damaging to a home, which is why many South Florida home buyers tend to steer clear of South Florida homes with mold. Although they might seem trivial, mold growth can cause extensive damage if not taken care of properly.
Reduced Air Quality
Mold and mold spores can reduce the air quality inside your South Florida home, which is never a good thing. It can bring a variety of issues for you and your family. For example, it can cause respiratory problems, mold sensitivity, and severe chronic conditions.
For homeowners with existing lung conditions, living in a South Florida home filled with mold can cause them to experience a decrease in health and might result in fatalities. Mold exposure can also cause asthma, respiratory illnesses, or other health risks in children who have no health conditions.
Rotting Wood
Mold can't cause wood to deteriorate, but it can be a pain to remove. If your home in South Florida is made of wood or a majority of your home is wooden, it can be a big problem in the future. If you spot mold on wooden surfaces, expect it to rot, and chances are, you might have to go through a tedious process to remediate it. Although mold won't cause your South Florida house to fall apart instantly, rotting frames or structures can reduce your home's durability. If you don't get to the bottom of the mold growth, you'll need to keep replacing the rotting frames or walls. Once it becomes severe enough, it can be impossible to fix.
How Mold Issues Affect the Sale of your South Florida Home
Selling a South Florida house with mold growth is something you should never take lightly. Most buyers will lose interest when the first mention of mold is made. The reality is, no one should have to purchase a South Florida home with mold. If mold is suspected, the real estate agent should immediately encourage the home seller to perform a mold inspection. It is also imperative that any mold known or found in an inspection must be disclosed to the new owner. Although mold growth varies in size and severity and might not pose a threat unless they are found in large amounts, it can scare away buyers and ultimately affect the sale of a home. Here are three ways mold growth can affect your South Florida home's sale.
Lack of Interest
The first mention of mold will surely scare away any potential buyers, especially if they come across it themselves. The sight of mold is unsightly, and everyone knows the dangers they bring to a home. When mold growth is present, it can affect the sale of your South Florida house and chase away potential buyers.
Potential Lawsuits
Lastly, if your South Florida home buyer discovers mold growth after purchasing your home, there's a high probability that they will come after you with a lawsuit. It doesn't matter if you knew about the problem or failed to mention it, the buyer can turn to the law, and you'll have to face the consequences.
Prevention Tips
Before you make the mistake of selling your potentially mold-infested home in South Florida, please take action today and address potential mold problems before it's too late.
There's no ultimate way to prevent mold spores from entering your South Florida home, but you can control them from growing inside your home. So, instead of focusing on keeping them out, focus on making mold growth unwelcome in your home with these tips.
Eliminate Moisture
We've mentioned previously in the article that mold thrives on moisture and warmth. So, the first thing you should do when dealing with mold growth is to eliminate the source of water. This can come in various forms, such as leaky pipes or cracks on your walls. Whichever it is, try your best to get it repaired as soon as you can.
Stay Dry
Once you've eliminated the sources of moisture, focus on keeping your South Florida home dry. You can keep your home dry by making sure all items in your home are properly dried, all rooms in your home are free from damp spots, and humidity in your home is relatively low. To keep humidity levels down in tropical or hot climates, consider using air conditioners or dehumidifiers. Make sure that you do not have any leaky pipes even if it's only a few drops. Any type of moisture can cause mold.
Inspect Regularly
One of the most effective ways to prevent mold growth from getting severe is by detecting it early on. So, make time to walk around your South Florida home and observe any signs of damage, such as leaks or cracks. You might not fix everything up yourself, so call a professional if you need extra help.
Visit our blog page for other home management tips for your South Florida home!
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