Posted on 11/25/2002 8:31:34 PM PST by davidtalker
Pardon me for asking a personal question. However, freepers are a wealth of information and I need some of that expertise.
We have reached an agreement with a buyer for our home. Closing is Dec. 15th. We have one major hurdle. The buyer's inspection. We have had a water claim within the last three years. Here in Texas, that is a major concern due to this mold hysteria. We have no evidence of mold. Period. Everything has been fixed and nothing seems to be a problem. If there is mold it would be in the wood beams above a drywall ceiling. The inspectors would have to tear up the ceiling to expose any mold. Do they do such a thing?
The house is insurable. Our carrier would not write the policy because the water claim was less than three years ago. However, the buyers carrier seems willing. As a matter of fact, they were more concerned with our cedar shake roof than they were any mold hassles. They have seen the report. All of that seems to be overcome. However, I am losing sleep over the pending inspection.
This is a beautiful home. It was built by one of the most respected builders in North Texas. The house is selling for nearly $400,000. So you can understand we are talking about a well built structure. The buyers are getting an incredible bargain. The house should sell for $450,000. We are just anxious because we are relocating.
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What can we expect from this inspection? For those of you who are Texans what are your thoughts and experiences. This is a HUGE problem here and is making home sales difficult at best. Water damage is very common. Any thoughts are most appreciated.
Include your posted description. He will tell you straight out if he can be of assistance - or direct you to other resources. Good luck, I have the same concern in Plano if we sell.
Get that sucker inspected and the sell completed!! Good luck.
Take a look at your furnace and air conditioner. Make sure both are cleaned before the inspection with new a filter for the furnace and a good washing of the condenser coil outside.
If you know anything about how a water heater works, open up the bottom panel that is covered by a piece of sheet metal and turn the gas off with the pilot knob or if your lucky enough you will have a shut off valve located on the gas line entering it. Wait until it is cool enough to work on. Inside, if it hasn't been cleaned lately, you will see what is called scaling. Scaling is when the flame burns little pieces of metal off of the bottom of the water heater tank and this usually collects on a little plate in the center of it. Take a shop vac and clean out all of the scaling and make sure it is clean. Re-light pilot light and replace sheet metal cover.
Another thing the inspectors like to look at is venting of gas appliances like your water heater and furnace (Unless you have a heat pump**** Most likely you do if you live in Texas) If your water heater is electric then disregard the above paragraph if not you want to make sure your venting is vented upward at least a quarter inch per foot as well as your venting for the furnace.
If they want to tear appart any ceilings to look for mold make them do it on a contingency that they will pay for any repair and painting that needs to be done before they start.
Good luck!
LOL We had a termite done when we bought the house, but the owners wouldn't allow an "infestation" inspection. So it can't be termites, we have no fleas and ticks in Vegas, my Motherinlaw is dead. What else could it be? I can't imagine mold affecting us in this climate! :0)
I know this is absolutely no help today, but ten years down the road, nobody will even think about this and we will have another fear-du-jour to worry about.
Good luck with the sale.
The situation is similar in CA. In both states, the infestation isn't mold, it's lawyers. They've scared people to death with the "Toxic Mold" fear. There isn't such a thing.
Don't know about Texas but we've sold three homes in the last decade. Never saw an inspector do anything like that.
Our last house had some evidence of water damage in the basement about 3 years prior to selling (discovered the problem after finding our Christmas ornaments covered in mold). We had fixed the problem, had no evidence of further damage, disclosed all this to the buyer and everything went fine.
What amazes me, most buyers are more concerned about cosmetic problems that they are structural.
As for Asbestos, that one wasn't overblown in the least.
Kevin is fine. Has been doing occasional gigs on WBAP -- a bigger, better station.
His inner ear problem is full resolved. And he has re-married, too.
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