MOLD TESTING THAT CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS! A MUST FOR ALL HOMEBUYERS.

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 mold related claim because of CLUE reporting and renters. The physical address of the subject property is required for these tests. Such information is needed for legal and negotiating purposes!

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? Some simple and inexpensive tests can save you thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Many water leaks lurk behind wall cavities, behind appliances or in ceilings and are not obvious to home inspectors or even sellers. Before you close on a home, be it a new or older home, do your own investigation to ensure you are not buying a money pit. Or, if you are interested in reducing your property tax burden, you can deduct from the appraised value the cost to cure. A small investment could enable you to knock thousands of dollars off the offer price or property tax bill.

Left uncorrected, water leaks can cause structural damage because over time, wet wood (beams, studs, plates, floor joists, etc…) can become degraded. Wet building materials also attract termites and cause mold to colonize and spread. Certain aggressive molds consume the materials on which they grow, further exacerbating structural damage.

If toxigenic mold is present in samples, 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 it’s property taxes you want to lower, chances are, you can reduce the value of your property according to your local Appraisal District (or Assessors Office) by the cost to cure (repair costs). 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.

Aerotech P&K has partnered with POA to offer several testing options not typically offered to the general public. These tests range from $10-$300 and provide varying levels of information. Carefully consider all options and review the sample reports below before testing so you know what information you will have at the end.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING A LAB TEST
If the test you want requires supplies from the laboratory, call 800-651-4802 (Phoenix) or 866-871-1984 (New Jersey). To qualify for discounted pricing, you must identify yourself as a POA member! Total payment for the test is required up front (credit card) before supplies can be shipped out. Use the special POA chain of custody form and fill out completely when sending in samples. If supplies are not needed from the lab, simply use this form and supply payment information (credit card) or a check when submitting the samples.

TURNAROUND TIME
Most data is provided by email and/or fax within 2-4 days of the lab receiving it. Bulk and Swab tests that require culturing (mold growth) can take up to 10 days.

WHAT HAPPENS IF RESULTS ARE POSITIVE?
If results are positive, this indicates that there could be serious water intrusion problems with the property. 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 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.

Remember to ALWAYS send the property owner and their agent a certified copy of the results so they know the results and can make proper repairs or reduce the asking price accordingly. If the owner is reluctant to make needed repairs, get a binding bid from a qualified professional to repair the property and reduce the offer price by the amount of the bid.