• Has the home had any significant flooding due to rain or storms.
• Has the home been remediated for mold
• Do the current owners suffer from any chronic illness, allergies, sleep disturbance, headaches, respiratory & cardiac disease. Note: you may not get an answer due to privacy.
• Have there been any minor flooding issues. Leaky pipes, toilet overflows, refrigerator leaking, washing machine drainage, dishwasher, etc
• has there been any remodeling.

(Note: You can take Mold swabs to take test samples that can be sent to a lab. More on testing below.

• Top of a hill is preferable to bottom
• Check to see if there is flooding or water against the foundation, crawlspace, or basement.
• Inspect gutters to see of they are properly diverting roof water away from the house.
• Inspect any gutter drainage or French drains to pull water away from the home.
• Take pictures of any potential problem area you find and document it so you can share with inspectors or building science professionals
• If you can, visit the house when it is raining. That will tell you exactly where water is flowing.

• Make sure you are trying to smell any musty or moldy odors.
• Use a flashlight, inspect the ceilings or walls for discoloration due to water. Drywall absorbs water and will be visible.
• If there is no discoloration due to fresh pain, use the moisture meter.
• Use a moisture meter to determine the moisture in the drywall or other surface. Take pictures and document.
• Pay special attention to areas of the home that are adjacent or below appliances that can cause flooding.
• Use the hygrometer to document humidity throughout the house.
• Take pictures with infrared camera of area location where there is pipes, potential to water to penetrate the home. This will tell you if there is water behind the walls or below the floor.

• Feel free to remove a register and look into the ductwork for dust, mold, etc.

• Feel free to remove a register and look into the ductwork for dust, mold, etc.

• Remove the detergent, fabric softener tray to determine if there is visible mold.
• Open the door and look behind the seal fordark mold accumulation.

• Ideally, the HVAC is relatively new and tightly sealed. With little dust or mold around the pan.
• If the HVAC is older, it is best to have an HVAC professional open the HVAC to check for mold.