Mold a Common Fixture in Foreclosed & Abandoned Properties

The indoor air quality (IAQ) professionals at Clark Seif Clark (CSC) provide comprehensive consulting and testing services for foreclosed residential and commercial properties.

This month a number of leading financial institutions across the United States declared moratoriums on foreclosures. Many homes are caught in limbo as banks review past foreclosure documentation to ensure proper procedures were followed.

Scores of these deserted properties sit unmaintained and become dilapidated while awaiting the outcome of the complicated foreclosure process. As these abandoned properties sit vacant they are subject to water incursions from broken pipes, floods, leaks and acts of vandalism. Within minutes of a water event, excessive moisture begins to cause damage to structural components and building finishes. Left unchecked, this moisture quickly results in the growth of visible mold and consequently a degradation of the indoor environmental quality.

Problems due to water damage and mold can be expensive problems to remedy for single-family residences, multi-family housing, and the variety of commercial structures. Proper mold remediation costs money that is generally unbudgeted for. Disclosure of flood events and mold growth during a property sale is a requirement in many U.S. states. The potential for legal liability can lead to stigmatized property.

Clark Seif Clark, a leading provider of air testing services, has extensive experience working with lenders, banks, insurance companies, real-estate professionals, and property owners to identify mold and to determine appropriate response actions to return the property to a balanced or habitable condition. “It is important to inspect and maintain properties in foreclosure on a regular schedule,” reported Derrick A. Denis, V.P. Indoor Environmental Quality at CSC. “Simple and cheap maintenance issues left in disrepair will quickly result in costly structural damage and environmental hazards. These problems can rapidly escalate into remediation projects costing tens of thousands of dollars and can adversely impact the property value.”

To learn more about how CSC can help with IAQ issues involving mold or other environmental concerns please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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