What a $195 Mold Inspection Covers, and Why the Remediation Estimate Is Still Free

We get asked why we charge for a mold inspection when our estimates are free. Short answer: an inspection is an hour of real work with real tools, and you get a written report whether you hire us or not. Here is exactly what the $195 buys.

The difference between an estimate and an inspection

An estimate is us looking at a known problem and pricing the fix. A mold inspection is us finding out whether there is a problem, where it is, and what is feeding it. One is a quote. The other is an investigation, and it takes equipment, time, and a report at the end.

What we do on a mold inspection

• Walk the affected area and the rooms around it. Mold is rarely only where you can see it.
• Moisture readings in walls, floors, and framing with a pin meter and a non-contact meter. Mold needs moisture, so the wet spots tell us where it is and where it is about to be.
• Trace the water source. A roof leak, a window, a pipe, a condensation problem, or a basement wall. If the source is not fixed the mold comes back, so this is the most important part of the visit.
• Photograph everything so you have a record for your insurance company, your landlord, or your buyer.
• A written report with what we found, the readings, the likely cause, and a recommendation.

What you get if remediation is needed

A line-item scope and price for the remediation and the rebuild, and that part is free. The $195 is for the inspection only. If the report says there is no mold problem, or it is small enough to handle yourself, you still have the report, and you have spent $195 instead of several thousand on work you did not need.

When you should book one

• A musty smell that does not go away with cleaning.
• Visible growth on drywall, trim, or framing.
• After a leak was "dried out" but nobody opened the wall to check.
• Before buying or selling a home with a damp basement or a past claim.
• A tenant complaint, so you have a third-party report on file.

What it is not

It is not air sampling sent to a lab. That is a separate service some clients want for a legal matter or a sale, and we can arrange it. For most homes, moisture readings and a trained set of eyes tell you more than a lab number does.