THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MOLD

 "Mold is Gold" has become the battle cry of some of Americas' lawyers.

There have been high profile cases where people have claimed that molds have destroyed their health as well as their home.

This article is not about who is right and who is wrong.

It is about presenting some facts and how you can avoid problems.

Here , there and everywhere

It is found outdoors and indoors.

It doesn't really become a problem inside until there is a water problem, such as a plumbing leak, rainwater leak or very high indoor humidity levels.

It needs water and food to grow.

Typical foods are cardboard, dust, paper, wood, dust mites, some paints, pastes and adhesives.  

How your health is affected

According to a New York City Health Department fact sheet, most types of mold that are routinely encountered are not hazardous to healthy individuals.

Too much exposure may cause or worsen conditions such as asthma, hay fever or other allergens.

Common symptoms of over-exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose, eye irritation and aggravation of asthma.

Depending on the amount of exposure and a persons' vulnerability, more serious health effects such as fever, breathing problems, nausea and skin rashes can occur.

Newborns, the elderly and those with poor immune symptoms can be affected severely.

Some symptoms associated with mold exposure may be caused by many other illnesses.

How much is too much?

No one really knows at this time.

Until science gets better, common sense should dictate that you should not live in a moldy house!

Testing

There are some experts who say testing for molds does little good.

They state that there are no standards that address acceptable or unacceptable levels.

A good rule is, "if you can smell it or see it, then you have it".

Cleaning

If you suspect you have mold you don't have to panic.

You can call a mold remediation expert to test and investigate for you.

Avoidance

Remember, Water is the culprit!

* Be sure to repair plumbing leaks immediately

* Keep rain gutters clean and operable

* If you insulate your basement, do not use fiberglass or cellulose on the walls, use rigid semi-permeable insulation

* Use a ventilator for your bathroom or kitchen that is piped to the outside, not into the attic

* Do not store boxes or clothes too close to an outside wall (especially in cold climates)

 

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Well Inspection Checklist

If your thinking about purchasing a house that uses a well to obtain water an inspection should be done before the house is purchased.  Below is a checklist to follow in order to ensure that the house you’re your interested in has a well that functions properly.

 

 

	Well record — Obtain a copy of the well record from the owner or the Ministry of the Environment. This should include: location of well, date of well drilling, depth and diameter of well, static water level, pumping water level, recommended pumping rate and the recommended pump setting.
	Location — A well should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from any source of contamination if the casing is watertight to a depth of 6 m (20 ft.); otherwise, the separation distance should be at least 30 m (100 ft.). Sources of contamination include: septic systems, manure storages, fuel storages, agricultural fields (manure or fertilizer runoff), and roads (salt runoff). Wells should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from a body of water (see Figure 3).
	Well cap — The cap should be at least 0.3 m (12 in.) above the ground. The well cap and seal should be securely in place and watertight. A locking cap would give some added security against tampering. Well caps are on drilled wells and well covers are on dug wells. Both types should be inspected.
	Well casing — No cracks or settling of the casing should be visible. The ground should slope away from the casing.
	Drainage — Surface water should drain away from the well and water should not pond around the well casing.
	Well pump — The well pump and distribution piping should be in good condition.
	Grass buffer — A permanent grass buffer of a minimum 4 m (12 ft.) width should be maintained around the well head. Fertilizers and pesticides should not be applied to the grass buffer.
	Abandoned wells — All abandoned wells on a property must be decommissioned (plugged) by a licensed well contractor. Ask the owner if there are any abandoned wells on the property and if they have been properly decommissioned.
	Inside the house — Check for sand or grit in the faucet strainer which indicates a corroded well screen. Verify that the pressure tank reads between 250 to 400 kPa (40 and 60 psi). Ensure that the check valve (or foot valve) is able to sustain the system pressure by drawing no water for 30 minutes to an hour and monitoring the pressure. The pressure should not drop nor should the pump start up during this dormant period.

 

 

 

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Tips to prevent mortgage fraud

To verify income

 

1.	Make sure that the employer listed on the application actually exists. Based on the income confirmation letter, use the reverse directories on www.canada411.ca or myTELUS where you enter the phone number or address to find the company.
2.	Call the employer's payroll or human resources department and verify the information contained in the income confirmation letter.
3.	Google or MapQuest the company to make sure the address is appropriate for the type of business.
4.	Check on Careerowl.ca to ensure that the earnings claimed are reasonable for the profession or region.

 

To verify the down payment

 

5.	Make sure that the full source of funds for the down payment is documented.
6.	Beware of the down payment being the deposit with the offer: verify that the borrowers had the funds in their position and that the funds were not borrowed.
7.	Where the down payment source is a gift, the donor's name, address and phone number should be provided in the gift letter, together with indication of their relationship to the borrower (immediate family only).
8.	Do not accept internet downloads of bank statements.
9.	Watch out for math errors on bank, investment, and RRSP statements. Mistakes are a red flag that the statements may not be legitimate.
10.	Ensure the void cheque cross references to the account number, bank and branch. Verify that the branch of the financial institution actually exists.

 

To verify the MLS listing

 

11.	Use mls.ca to verify that the property has been listed on the real estate board's system.
12.	Ensure all fields are complete on MLS (realtor name, firm, phone number, contract date, expiry, etc).
13.	Review the offer to purchase and ensure you have all schedules.
14.	Know your real estate market. Does the sale price seem reasonable to the area?
15.	Does the vendor's surname match the purchaser's? If this is a non-arm's length purchase, was the deposit paid to the relative?
16.	If it's a private sale, obtain information about the property by completing the private sale checklist. See the form within CAAMP's Origination Standards for Fraud Avoidance.

 

Other things to watch for

 

17.	Are chattels involved? Deduct these from the purchase price (nominal values are usually acceptable).
18.	Are there purchase incentives? If there are bonuses for purchasing such as a car, appliances or furniture, treat these as chattels and deduct their value from the purchase price.
19.	Watch for special conditions. For example, is there work to be completed before closing? Are there kickbacks or rebates to be made after completion?
20.	Have you seen more than one file per year with the same vendor, purchaser or address? Is the purchaser acquiring a portfolio of rental properties?
21.	Watch out for the combination of a quick closing with a conflict of interest (non arm's length, double ended or dual agency). This is a tell tale sign of a fraud file.

 

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Home Security Checklist

If you are like most Canadians, you are concerned about the safety of your home and your community. One particular type of crime that worries Canadians is breaking and entering, or burglary. Below is a checklist to ensure the safety of your home. If you answer “no” to any of the following questions, further action may be required.

 

 

Surroundings
	Yes	No
Does your neighbourhood have a sense of community and pride? Do neighbours look out for and care for one another?
Are the house and the grounds visible from the street and by neighbours?
Is the perimeter of your property marked to discourage trespassers?
Are entranceways illuminated at night? Are the bulbs for these lights protected?

 

 

 

Exterior
	Yes	No
Is shrubbery well-located and maintained, allowing unrestricted views of exterior entrances and windows? Are entrances and windows free of other obstructions?
Are exterior doors and frames sturdily built? Could they withstand being kicked, or otherwise broken down?
Are inner locks inaccessible in the event glass in or near the exterior door is broken?
Is the door hardware (for example, locks, latches, handles, hinges, strike plates) durable and securely installed? Are hinge pins protected or located where they can’t be removed from the outside?
Does the front door have a viewer that lets you see who is at the door before you open it?
Are patio doors “grounded” in their tracks? Is the locking mechanism effective?
Is the garage door kept locked? Are tools and ladders kept where they cannot be accessed by a burglar/thief?
Are basement and ground-floor windows equipped with adequate locks? Are windows of good quality, within solid frames and sashes?
Are second-storey windows that might be reached (for example, from the garage roof, TV tower, ladder or overhanging tree limb) properly secured?
If you were away, would the house still look occupied? If yes, what would make you think so?

 

 

 

Interior
	Yes	No
Are all interior doors leading to the exterior (for example, basement, garage, solarium) routinely locked?
Are valuables marked for identification, insured and securely stored? Are valuable items kept in a bank vault or a security box?
Do you take reasonable security precautions when leaving the house for the day? for a vacation? to go to the corner store?
Do family members and neighbours know what security precautions you have taken? Do they have good security habits so when they may be asked to look after your home, your know your home is secure?
Do you know your neighbours and their phone numbers?
Is the phone number for the local police department clearly posted at every telephone?
Could security be improved by installing a suitable alarm?

 

 

 

 

 

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