Selling A House With Mold

Selling a house with mold is a ticking time bomb.

You can try to hide it, but any decent home inspection will flag it.

It’s just one of those things that no one wants to deal with. It’s gross, it’s wet and it’s harmful to your health.

Mold is everywhere.

Even if you think your home is free of it, you might be surprised.

In fact, in 2021, research shows that nearly 70% of homes in the US have some level of mold or mildew substance!

To make this problem even more concerning, many homeowners may be breathing in the particulate matter produced by mold without knowing it’s a problem at all.

So what should one do when trying to sell a house with mold?

That’s what we will cover in this 2024 guide.

You have options available even if your mold problem is severe.

Let me show what those are.

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Mold is a serious matter. Short or long duration exposure to mold can increase health risks and contribute to respiratory disease.
• A house with mold can be sold. There are numerous options to selling a house with mold that we will cover in this article.
• If you own a house with mold, mildew or other similar fungi and you’d like to sell this property then there are resources who can help you do that while minimizing the cost and effort.

Table of Contents

Can You Sell A House With Mold In Pennsylvania?

Selling a house can be a complex process on its own.

Add mold to the situation and you might want to pull your hair out.

Mold slows down the sale of your home because it deters buyers and their lenders from wanting to close on the property. They will either want the mold remediated before closing or they may back out of the deal altogether. Worse yet, if you’re mold or mildew problem is noticeable enough, you may not even get as far as receiving offers.

With mold infestations causing potential buyers to hesitate, affecting the sale of your home and overall value of your property, there still is a way to get it sold.

The answer is:

Yes, you can sell a house with mold. It’s been done before and you can do it too. However, if that’s your plan, then you’ll need to make sure you find the right buyer for the home.

More on that to come…

Can You Sell A House With Black Mold In Pennsylvania?

Black mold is dangerous.

While it still may technically be possible to sell your house with black mold, it will be quite the challenge.

Our experience suggests that houses with black mold take twice as long to close on the sale than those with signs of regular mold or mildew.

If you believe black mold exists in your house and you’re looking to sell it, start with safety. You may want to remediate the problem ASAP to prevent any further health damage to you and others.

Check for mold by examining the health and respiratory symptoms of you and your family (or any other residents of the household).

Addressing these issues promptly is essential to ensure a smooth selling process.

Do You Have To Disclose Mold When Selling A House in PA?

If you know about mold on your property, then it is actually in your best interest to disclose it.

Here’s why:

Disclosing the fact that there is mold or mildew issue on your property demonstrates that you are ready to sell. You’re not looking to play games and hide stuff for the next buyer to find. If you come forth and disclose everything you know – then you won’t have buyers backing out or lenders creating last minute issues.

Despite what you might be hearing from friends, family, neighbors and anyone else you are talking to – it’s actually NOT illegal to sell a house with mold. As long as proper disclosure is documented and the buyer fully understands then it is totally legal to sell the home to them.

Honesty and transparency will always win when it comes to mold.

Selling a house with a history of mold growth is not easy, but definitely doable. Your best bet is to call it out at the beginning.

If you’re selling your house with an agent or realtor, then let them know right away.

If you’re selling a house with mold to an investor, then let them know too.

Just be forthcoming about the mold exposure and what work might be required to remediate it. Include any mold remediation documents in your property disclosure statement as well as estimates from contractors to come and clean it up.

Educating potential buyers about the measures you have taken will help alleviate concerns and build trust.

Selling A House With Mold Problems In Pennsylvania

Selling a house with mold doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

It’s not easy, but with the right strategy it can be done.

Tip #1: Be Forthcoming

Address mold issues through professional mold inspections, remediation, and documentation. You can overcome potential buyer hesitations and successfully sell your property by being proactive and honest.

Tip #2: Disclose

Remember to disclose the mold problem upfront and educate all buyers and their agents about the steps you have already completed to create a healthy indoor breathing environment for them.

Now that you know how important disclosure is, let’s talk about the different ways you can sell a house with mold, mildew, black mold or any other harmful airborne fungi.

Selling A Home After Mold Remediation In Pennsylvania

One option is to get rid of the mold problem before you sell. This is a great option because doing this method correctly will eliminate all of your mold issues going into the negotiations of the sale of the house. However, the downside here is that is expensive. Standard mold remediation in the United States cost upwards of $10-$25 per square foot.

If you decide to go down this route, save your receipts, certifications and all of the documents that now stamp your living space as safe and free of mold.

You might also want to document pictures, methods/products used/applied and any post-inspection reports too. These can be shown to new prospective home buyers to demonstrate that the issue is already resolved and therefore not a problem that they will inherit.

Selling A House With Mold On Market

Another option is to simply sell the house, as is, on the MLS with full disclosure.

This is an easier option than remediation because it means you don’t have to invest any further into fixing your mold problem. However, you may end up finding that offers are lower than what you could get if the house didn’t have a mold problem to begin with.

And lower offers might not necessarily be a problem since you know the house has mold, but stack that up with the added costs of hiring an agent and now you may stand to lose money on the house.

And to add more issue to this option, many potential buyers on-market present offers that are financed by lenders with a mortgage. These mortgage companies typically reject loan applications on homes that have major issues – mold being one of the prominent ones.

Listing a house on the MLS with an agent may get you some lower offers that may only tie up the property for months and then ultimately fall apart at the last minute. This leaves you no where in the end.

Sell Your Moldy House To A Pennsylvania Home Buyer

Your best option may be to sell your house, as is, mold and all to a cash home buyer.

Signature Properties is a local cash buyer who buys homes with mold problems all the time.

We do this with cash, so there is no approval required from lenders or mortgage companies.

We also buy it in any condition so you won’t be asked to remediate your mold infestation before closing.

Do you have black mold? No problem. We’ll buy it.

Is the mold all over the sheetrock? No problem. We’ll buy it.

Can’t find anyone to remediate your mold? No problem. We’ll buy it.

As a home buyer, we also cover all of the closing costs and charge no fees or commissions. This puts more money back in your pocket at closing.

Selling your house with mold to a Signature Properties is the easiest and cheapest option.

PA Mold House Frequently Asked Questions

How does mold remediation affect the process of selling a house?

Mold remediation plays a crucial role in selling a house that has mold damage. Professional mold removal and remediation addresses the underlying mold problem which is what many buyers will want resolved at closing. It also promotes a healthier living environment which is always valued buy home buyers. Be sure to document the remediation process and illustrate the improvements made.

Is it necessary to disclose a mold problem when selling a house?

Yes, it is essential to disclose any known mold issues when selling a house. Full transparency regarding the history of mold problems protects both the seller and the buyer in a real estate transaction. Disclosing the mold problem demonstrates integrity and ensures compliance with legal requirements.

How can I attract potential buyers when selling a house with a previous mold infestation?

The trick here is to look for the right buyer. Find a buyer who will buy your house in current condition. This way you don’t have to invest in mold remediation and you can still sell your house. You can search for a home buyer to make you an offer or you can contact Signature Properties for a fast, free no-obligation offer.

Should I hire a professional mold inspector before selling my house?

You can use common sense here. If you know your house has mold then you might not need a professional inspector. Instead invest that money in mold remediation if you have the money for it. Otherwise, mold is mold. If you see it, follow the steps in this guide to sell your house with mold and you can get it done inexpensively and quickly.

The findings and information in this article are focused on Pennsylvania, however, it is applicable in many locations nationwide! Signature Properties is a full-service home buyer that purchases mold properties to help homeowners all across PA, NJ & DE.

Best Way To Sell My House Pennsylvania

Signature Properties provides the easiest and simplest way to sell your house in Pennsylvania. We buy houses through fair and honest cash offers.🙂 Whether you are avoiding the bank from foreclosure, coming into an inheritance, going through divorce or any other situation – we have real estate solutions to get you the outcomes you desire when you sell your house to us. We help homeowners with costly home repairs, mounting liens, code enforcement violations and even vacant homes. Are you trying to sell your house in surrounding areas or other counties and states near Pennsylvania? We buy properties in New Jersey and Delaware as well as many other towns! In fact, we buy homes all over Pennsylvania. Come find out why selling a house with mold is easier than you might think!