​Is there an area of mold growing in your home?  Obviously, this is not something you want and will likely wish to remove it as quickly as possible but, is mold something you can clean up yourself or should you call in a professional to take care of it for you? The answer to this depends on a number of factors, but usually you can take care of it yourself if it is not covering an area of more than 10 square feet.  Here are a few points to think about before you begin:
 
Mold spores as most people are aware can be very harmful to health so, before you start the cleanup, make sure you are wearing a respirator mask and proper protective clothing.
 
Its important to realize that mold does not grow without moisture.  This means that something is causing the mold to grow in your home.  It could be an undetected water leak or some other water related issue.  Whatever the problem is, however, you need to have it fixed, otherwise mold will just keep recurring.
 
Do not use caulk on areas where mold is still present.  If you are going to repaint a wall with mold, make sure you have thoroughly scrubbed the area using water and detergent and leave it to completely dry.  If not, the paint may start to peel. 
 
There are some areas where mold can be found that will be difficult to remove, carpeting is one such area and it may be better to replace it.  Although you can clean soft furnishing that have had mold on them, be aware that mold or mildew will generally leave staining on fabrics.  Ask for advice from a furniture restoration company if you desire to keep these items.
 
In summary, in small areas mold can usually be cleaned up by the homeowner but seek some advice first because, as we mentioned, there are a number of factors involved.

​As you will be aware by now, the home inspection is a crucial part of the home buying process.  Although you hope there will not be any issues with the property, what is the next step if the home inspection report uncovers problems?
 
The home inspectors report may well list some items as defective, but this does not always mean you need to back out of the sale.  For example, some defective items such as faulty carbon monoxide and smoke detectors or a few loose shingles on the roof are things that are easy to fix and will not cost too much to do so.  But, there are other defects like mold, wood rot or structural damage which are much bigger issues and will likely cost a lot of money to fix.  In some cases, there may be problems which are big to deal with.  This example, however, shows the importance of a thorough home inspection.
 
Home inspectors are very often licensed contractors as well.  If you have found a home inspector you trust, would it be right to hire them for any repair work that will need to be done?  There are a few reasons why this is not advised.  It may look like the home inspector purposely found problems with the property so that they could be employed to fix them.  This would also place the accuracy of the inspection report in doubt.  The best guide to finding a home inspector who will provide a thorough and honest report is to choose one who is InterNACHI certified and who abides by InterNACHI’s Code of Ethics.