Mold Testing
Add a lab-analyzed mold spore test to your home inspection to find out what’s in the air.
What we sample
- One air sample from the basement, where dampness is most likely
- One outdoor air sample as a control
- Additional indoor rooms, $100 per sample
How it works
- Our inspector collects the air samples during your inspection.
- The samples are sent overnight to the lab, which counts spores by mold type.
- Indoor counts are compared to the outdoor sample to show whether levels are elevated.
Who collects your mold samples
Your mold air samples are collected by our own inspector during your inspection. Each of our three Ohio-licensed home inspectors has their Ohio license number listed on Meet the team.
A normal home inspection isn’t intended to detect, identify or disclose mold (see our Residential Inspection Agreement). Under the Ohio Standards of Practice (Ohio Administrative Code 1301:17-1-17), a home inspector isn’t required to determine whether environmental hazards are present. That’s why the mold spore test is a separate add-on.
Which inspections it can be added to
- Residential home inspections, for buyers who will live in the home
- Pre-listing inspections
- Investment property inspections
When you get your results
Mold test results aren’t included in the same-day home inspection report. The samples are sent overnight to the lab, which usually reports back within 24 hours of receiving them; weekends can delay results. The lab’s mold report is uploaded separately to your report portal, and we email you when it’s available and tell you whether remediation is recommended.
Price
Each mold test includes one basement air sample and one outdoor control sample.
Already own the property and only need mold inspection/testing? Learn about our standalone mold service.
Good to know
Testing is non-invasive, so mold hidden behind finished walls can be missed. If levels are elevated, we'll recommend further investigation. Cleanup is done by a certified mold remediation company, not by us.
Mold testing questions
Can I order a mold test without a home inspection?
Yes. We also offer a standalone mold inspection and air-quality testing service for $495. It includes a focused visual assessment and three spore-trap air samples: one basement sample, one above-grade living-area sample and one exterior control sample.
Can I add a mold test to a rental or investment-property inspection?
Yes. The $395 mold test can be added to a single-family, duplex, triplex or four-unit investment-property inspection.
Does a standard home inspection check for mold?
No. A normal home inspection isn’t intended to detect, identify or disclose mold. Under Ohio’s home inspection Standards of Practice, inspectors aren’t required to determine whether environmental hazards are present. The mold spore test is a separate add-on.
Residential Inspection Agreement · Ohio Standards of Practice · Ohio Administrative Code 1301:17-1-17
How much does mold testing cost?
Mold testing added to a residential home inspection, a pre-listing inspection, or a single-family, duplex, triplex or four-unit investment-property inspection costs $395. That includes one basement air sample and one outdoor control sample, and each additional indoor sample is $100. If you only need mold inspection and testing without a home inspection, our standalone mold inspection is $495 and includes three air samples: one basement sample, one above-grade living-area sample and one exterior control sample.
When will I get my mold test results?
Mold test results aren’t included in the same-day home inspection report. The samples are sent overnight to the lab, which usually reports back within 24 hours of receiving them; weekends can delay results. We upload the mold report separately to your report portal and email you when it’s available.
Does a normal result mean the home has no mold?
No. Results that aren’t elevated don’t guarantee the home has or will continue to have low mold levels, because airborne spores vary from day to day and season to season. Testing is non-invasive, so mold hidden behind finished walls can be missed.