If You Think You Have Mold, or Know You Have Mold, it's Time to be SMART.
1. First determine who you think can help you.
2. Now determine if the people your are going to ask for the help, are the same people
who will be held liable and will have to pay for your property damage or your medical
expenses due to the Mold contamination?
3. If your answer to question #2 is "YES", you had better sit down and think things
out.
If you are dealing with an Apartment Complex, Property Management Company, Condominium Association or Private Landlord, 99% of the cases we have studied strongly indicate they will first try to deny it's Mold. If they do agree its' Mold, they will probably tell you it's not the "BAD" kind of Mold, and it's nothing to worry about.
Just for complaining about Mold some tenants have been turned over to the management company's Law Firm for all further communications even though they didn't have a lawyer. The same goes for Federal, City, State, Local Government Offices and private employers if you are an employee.
We have reviewed documents that when a Mold complaint was filed by Government workers or private employees, those employees they were quickly transferred to far
off office locations, or were fired shortly thereafter.
Before you cry Mold, there are a few things you should consider doing before letting the cat out of the bag.
As soon as you cry Mold, you will be labeled an alarmist and a trouble maker, so you had better get the facts documented. Even after you get the facts, you'll be labeled an alarmist and a trouble maker. If it's on the job, expect to have a short lived career there, "YES", it is really that bad.
It is very rare you get cooperation from people who have to spend thousands of dollars fixing a problem you have just brought to their attention. The fact is everything was running smoothly until you came along.
1. Document what it is, is it Mold or not?
This may cost you a little money, but you will have to do it if you want anyone to
listen to you. Make sure you contact someone who is a "Mold Certified" professional.
A Mold Home Test won't do it for you, the reason is because you have no
creditability in your knowledge of Mold or collecting Mold samples. You will need
a professionally written report to back up your findings.
Important: The cost to prove it's Mold may seem a little expensive at first and
can cost about $100 - $500 BUT... What is the cost of your health?
Dr.'s visits? Replacing your homes contents, your clothing or even
your home? Mold remediation of a home can easily cost from $10,000.00
to $100,000.00 . So a small investment to help ensure that things
will turn out in your favor is well worth it.
Many people look at this upfront cost and start, "hoping", "Well, if I just tell them about it they'll do the right thing and help me".
The answer to that is "Probably Not", when people can get out of paying for anything.... they usually will. And the liability for Mold exposure can reach the tens of thousands of dollars quickly. Remember, the safest bet for anyone responsible for your Mold problem, would be to deny it's Mold and hope you go away. If they have to admit it's Mold, the second thing the liable party usually attempts to do, is to short cut the repair.
Short cutting the repair is the second most commonly used tactic next to total denial. The liable party will exhibit "Good Will", in making a repair. But the fact is they will try to spend about 10% of what they need to spend to fix the problem correctly. The end result is the Mold comes back in 60-90 days. Then they try to blame you or the contractor for the "NEW" Mold problem.
2. Find Out if You Have Mold in Your Body
This is the test that can change everything!
Once you prove you have Mold in your body at "ABNORMAL" levels, you will
find everyone gets very serious about things, very quickly. Now it becomes
not a question of "IF", you have been exposed to Mold, it's how much
damage has it caused you?
When the Mold in your body matches the same species of Mold found in your environment you have got a very strong case!
3. Mold Usually comes from Water Intrusion "Water leaks"
Take pictures of all Mold and water leaks "BEFORE" anyone knows why you're
doing it.
Now you have knowledge if it's Mold, If the Mold is in your body, and the probable cause of where the Mold came from.
Now you are Ready to Complain
It is a Very Good Idea...
Every Conversation you have from here on out, discussing Mold, in person or over the telephone, record those conversation and keep them for your own records. It's amazing what people will say from one day to the next...
There can be a lot more to this process, but these three steps will help you secure the facts if you ever need to take legal action.
REMEMBER: NEVER give your original photos or documentation away to
anyone. Give out copies only.
Remember if and When They do Clean it up:
1. BLEACH won't Kill Mold
2. Mold Grows Behind Walls and Under Cabinets
3. Mold gets into your HVAC Systems and Vents
4. Many times removing Walls and Ceilings is the only way to get rid of it.
5. If it's in an attic area all the insulations is probably contaminated and needs to be
removed too.
6. If you have Mold in your home, it's on your furniture, clothing and other contents
too. Make sure they address how are they going to deal with that?
Finally a Nationwide Live Help Line for Mold Problems.
To Speak to a Live Person about your Mold Problem "Click Here"