PROPERTY-SPECIFIC TESTING AT
DISCOUNTED PRICES

This test is appropriate for homebuyers or for property owners wishing to make the most out of defects so they can reduce property taxes. This test is also appropriate for any policyholder who has already filed a water damage claim that has been mishandled by the insurer, homeowners with construction defects and renters.

Are you buying a home or a money pit? Do you want to reduce your property taxes because you have water intrusions that can be used to reduce your appraised value? Has your insurance carrier mishandled your water damage claim so much that mold has overtaken your home? Or, are you a victim of construction defects that are covered by the statute of limitations or warranty? Some simple and inexpensive tests can save you thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars, or help you or your experts better determine the scope and cost of repairs.

Many water leaks lurk behind wall cavities, behind appliances or in ceilings and are not obvious to homeowners even for extended periods of time. Left uncorrected, water leaks can cause structural damage because wet wood (beams, studs, floor joists, etc…) can become degraded. Wet building materials also attract termites and cause mold to colonize and spread, especially on drywall, pressboard and plywood. Certain aggressive molds consume the materials on which they grow, further exacerbating structural and cosmetic damage, not to mention cause health problems including respiratory problems, chronic flu-like symptoms, depression, hair loss, headaches, hearing and vision loss, equilibrium problems, cognitive impairment and a host of other serious issues.

Prestige EnviroMicrobiology, Inc. has partnered with POA to offer several testing options not typically offered to the general public and at discounted prices. To take advantage of this option, you will need to fill out the forms that do not require the property address located here. The tests offered by this lab range from $30 – $75 per sample, depending on how much information the homeowner requires. Carefully consider all options and review the direct examination sample report (microscope analysis) and cultured analysis sample report before ordering the test because that is the only way you will know the details available from information you will receive.  

NOTE: “Direct” examination is performed by looking at a mold sample under the microscope and identifying it by spore type. “Cultures” are performed when the lab grows the organism in a Petri dish and does an identification from the culture. The benefit of growing a culture is that you can tell what organisms are alive (growing/spreading) and identify the specific species and/or subspecies of mold. Such information is important if the homeowner or treating physician needs to know if mold is still growing within the home or the type of mycotoxin (if any) to which the occupant has likely been exposed.   

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING A LAB TEST
Download the order form and chain of custody form here take the sample per the instructions and send the sample, forms and payment to the lab

COST
The cost per sample runs between $30 - $75. The prices are a directly related to the type of testing required – basic (direct) or more in depth (cultured).

Prestige EnviroMicrobiology Inc. requires prepayment by check prior to analysis. Send payment with sample(s) to the lab at:

Prestige EnviroMicrobiology, Inc.
242 Terrace Boulevard Suite B-1
Voorhees, New Jersey 08043

TURNAROUND TIME
Most data is provided by email and/or fax within a week of the lab receiving it. Tests that require culturing (mold growth) can take up to 20 days.

WHAT HAPPENS IF RESULTS ARE POSITIVE?
If results are positive, this indicates that there is or was a serious water intrusion problem. You should find out from where the leak(s) originate, immediately stop the leak(s) and, using trained professionals, determine how extensive the problem is (if, for example, the water intrusion has led to structural problems and/or to determine remediation protocols) so that a full scope- and cost of repairs can be developed. POA recommends that homeowners or their experts use moisture meters properly calibrated for the substrate sampled (wood, concrete or gypsum) and infrared technology to determine the extent of the water intrusion and consequential mold damage. Destructive sampling can cause further damage unless proper containment is used.

If occupants are experiencing health problems, medical attention needs to be sought so that proper treatment is given. A word to the wise: rarely do symptoms subside if exposure continues. Most people who suffer from mold- or building-related illness report a reduction of symptoms only after moving from the contaminated structure.

Remember, the cost to remediate a property can be expensive. Many states have allowed insurers to exclude or cap mold remediation, even if mold is a direct consequence of a peril covered by the homeowners policy. Many construction or installation defects are covered under warranty for a specific period of time. Problems caused by lack of proper maintenance are not covered. Many homeowners who find themselves at the crossroads of deciding to remediate or sell, base their decision on the cost to repair.

If a victim of insurance bad faith (mishandled or delayed water damage claim): Even if mold remediation is capped or excluded in your insurance policy, it might well be paid for by the insurer if the insurer wrongly delayed, denied or mishandled your claim. Documentation or the insurance company’s behavior is key to proving bad faith.  Before testing, contact POA at info@policyholdersofamerica.org. We will help you navigate through these shark infested waters and help you decide if testing is an appropriate course of action. 

If a victim of construction defects: Many construction defects cause water intrusions that can, over time, become big mold problems. Contractors and homebuilders seem to always want to put a Band-Aid on a problem requiring surgery.  Before you sign any sort of waiver, you should test the home to make certain a proper and complete scope of repairs are preformed. 

If a new homebuyer: You should find out just how extensive the problem is (if, for example, the water intrusion has led to structural problems) and what it will cost to repair the problem BEFORE you close on the property as you might otherwise be purchasing a money pit. In fact, sometimes, the cost of repair equals or exceeds the value of the property. If the testing results are positive, you should send the findings to the seller and real estate agent representing the seller, via certified mail, so the seller and agent are put on notice and must disclose the findings to any buyer or make proper (and often, expensive) repairs. Should toxigenic mold be present in any serious quantity and you still want to purchase the property, you should get binding bids from remediators for proper repairs and deduct that amount from your offer.

If a renter:  You should send the owner and/or management company representing the building a copy of the report via certified mail. In an accompanying letter, ask the owner/management company to begin immediate repairs using standards set forth by the IICRC, or other published guidelines and provide other living quarters until the repairs are complete. If health problems have resulted because of exposure, you should state so in your letter.

If you are lowering your Appraised Value: If you are using positive test results to lower your tax valuation, you will need to appeal the valuation according to your County Assessors Office (usually this is done in writing and there are time constraints or each year’s appeal) and provide estimates to repair the property. Land value will not be changed but the valuation of the structure can be reduced by the cost to cure.  To achieve your goal, you are required to gather ALL repair estimates (remediation and reconstruction costs) and send these estimates to your County Appraisal District or Assessors Office and appeal the tax value.

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