For Sale - Your House, we got this!

6/17/2016 (Permalink)

I am amazed at the number of houses in which we are now performing mold remediation services these days.  Many of the homes are for sale and the work needs to be done prior to the sale closing.  Many Real Estate Professionals and Property Managers in the Hampshire County area trust SERVPRO of Hampshire County to get the job done for their clients. 

How can you avoid microbial growth in your attic or basement spaces (the most common areas in which we find remediation necessary)?

 In the attic, ensure there is proper and adequate ventilation.  If you added insulation to the attic space, ensure that the soffit vents were not covered up in the process.  This will stop the flow of air along the underside of the sheathing and inhibit evaporation of moisture from the surface.  Ensure there is a ridge vent, this keep the air flowing (stacking) upward and out of the attic space.  Finally, adding or ensure that gable end vents are in place if more ventilation is necessary, make sure they are kept clean of insects, nests and debris.  Install an exhaust fan in the attic if more ventilation is felt necessary.  They can be rigged up with temperature and humidity switches to turn on and off at certain levels. 

In the basement you want to ensure that humidity levels are kept below 50% RH and ventilate the area as much as possible by opening windows and cross ventilating when the weather allows.   The use of a vent fan in the basement is not a bad option as well.  Run a dehumidifier on humid days, do not run the DH if the windows are open, you will be attempting to dry the entire Pioneer Valley if you do that.  Ensure that down spouts on the outside of the building are directed away from the building.  Moisture around the perimeter will find its way into the basement through concrete.  Again, air flow and low humidity are a must in basements.

Overall, the more air flow and humidity control the better off you are in the end.  Spores do not settle unless there is a lack of air flow and cannot multiply without proper amounts of moisture.  By understanding a few of the dynamics of the building, you can avoid last minute interruptions and inconveniences when selling your home.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can further help with your home sale, whether it’s mold remediation, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, duct cleaning, deodorization, nicotine cleaning, etc. we can be your cleaning solution.  Furthermore, should you need a plumber, electrician, roofer, pest control pro or any other building services during your home sale, we can refer you or your Realtor to any of our network professionals, all who work in and are local to Western Massachusetts.   Having the right team on your side when buying or selling a home is important.  SERVPRO of Hampshire County can help head up your team of professionals to ensure things can go as smoothly as possible.