Lauri’s Story
Lauri Alexander is a 27-year-old executive in Silver Springs, MD. Lauri, having found another job near family, was considering selling her home and moving to Charlotte, North Carolina. One night while Lauri was cooking dinner, she felt water falling on her shoulders. When she looked up, the ceiling in her kitchen had water droplets all over the outside and inner corner of the ceiling. In the corner where it was leaking, mold had started to grow. It had been raining outside a lot so Lauri immediately started checking for leaks. The ceiling where the water droplets were showed no clear sign of leakage. Lauri went into the attic above the kitchen and still did not see any leakage but she did see a dark patch that looked like mold.
After wiping down the ceiling, Lauri decided to wait and see if it happened again. The next day the kitchen ceiling started to drip again. This time Lauri decided to go out and check the gutters. She noticed the outside gutter, on the front of the house, was tilted backward. She decided to call a gutter specialist to look at the gutter safely.
Inspection
The next day the gutter specialists and crew arrived to look at the situation. They looked at the kitchen ceiling and attic first. They could see the condensation that had built up along the outside wall and was dripping down off the ceiling. Next, they went out to inspect the gutters outside along the kitchen wall. The gutters were tilted back toward the house. Lauri’s house being older, the gutters that were installed were the overlapping kind that screwed into the wood that covers the rafters on the house. Screwing the gutters into the house leaves a place for water to get trapped and mold to form. This does not allow proper ventilation and can be a breeding ground for mold. With the gutters tilted, this can cause water to run into the space between the walls causing mold to grow, rotting the roof. This can also cause condensation and mold on the ceiling of the kitchen.
Damage Report
The damage the mold had caused was extensive. Water from the tilted gutter had run between the inside and outside walls causing mold in the wall. The gutters, because of ventilation issues, were also full of mold and needed to be replaced. The roof and attic walls had mold growing on them and the ceiling inside the kitchen had mold damage that was dropping down into the kitchen. All of these issues required immediate repair.. It’s always best to check with your homeowner’s insurance when finding these problems as soon as possible. Unless you have mold coverage in your policy, it is unlikely that your policy will cover all the needed repairs.
Remediation and repair of mold damage can add up quickly. In Lauri’s case, because of how much the mold had spread out over time, that remediation and repair included complete roof and gutter replacement. Seamless gutters do not screw into the house. They drain and dry more efficiently and do not provide an environment conducive for mold to grow. The drywall between the kitchen, outside wall, and in the attic would need to be cleaned and replaced. The inside of the ceiling and possibly sections of the ceiling in the kitchenwhere the water leakage caused mold would need to be cleaned and replaced.
Proper ventilation also needs to be put into the kitchen to help with air circulation that will decrease mold growth. All of the necessaryrepairs to Lauri’s house carried a combined prie tag of well over $10,000 and were not likely to be covered by Lauri’s insurance.
Lauri’s Solution
The repairs needed, due to the season and pandemic issues would take months to complete. After looking at the estimates provided and out-of-pocket costs required, Lauri decided to do some further research online. Seeing that Akin Developers pay cash – and quickly – for homes in almost any condition, she made the decision to contact us for a no-cost no-obligation offer on his home. After or initial conversation, we set up a meeting to take a look at the home.. We met with Lauri and, after inspecting her home, we offered her a fair price, which she accepted. Lauri accepted the new job in North Carolina and began packing her belongings to move. Her house closed in about 10 days and she left with enough money in the bank to put towards her new home.
Conclusion
Mold damage can happen without any warning, especially if the cause of that damage is gradual. Make sure you know what your homeowner’s insurance covers regarding mold damage so you are prepared should you ever find yourself in Lauri’s situation.
If you are looking to sell your home quickly, for cash – whether with mold damage or otherwise distressed, or in perfect condition – contact us here at Akin Developers, and let us see what we can do for you, too.