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Mold Claims Soar: South Florida

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Clearly the mold issue has grown some teeth and taken a bite into many, be they the ones who are sick,or claim to be sick, or the insurers and lawyers who are being dragged into the fold. I recently changed my E & O company as my other one made an across-the-board rate increase of 33% on all its policy options when their underwriter/carrier dropped them and they acquired a new one. My new carrier did offer an Environmental Waiver option for another $25 kicker....but at this time I declined to add it. Apparently there is growing concern for this new environmental issue and we appraisers need to be aware and by adding more disclaimers in our reports or disclosing the unidentified black/brown/green/blue/gray gunk we see in some locations. I really do not think our national weather and ambient humidity or moisture is any more intense today than it was 50 years ago. Are the houses the problem ? Are they better and that causes the mold problems ? Are they worse and that now causes the problem ? Do we simply have quicker, faster and more wide-spread news media to proliferate ANY problem and cause the ire and fluff the feathers of those who envision millions from legal proceedings to follow. Environmental issues always come as a trend, and now it is mold. In the past we had asbestos, and then it was radon. Surely, I have missed a few others. Eventually we will have sued everybody worth suing and corrected all the possible wrongs and we'll have a perfect world in which to raise our kids. Too bad I won't be here to see that perfect world. Builder beware....Realtor beware....buyer beware....lender beware....appraiser beware. Heh, why don't we all just be--ware. It really is not fun to discover yourself being "the one left holding the bag" !
 
"Environmental issues always come as a trend, and now it is mold. In the past we had asbestos, and then it was radon. "

That is exactly the same thought I had when reading about this new pest.
 
"Environmental issues always come as a trend, and now it is mold. In the past we had asbestos, and then it was radon. "

That is exactly the same thought I had when reading about this new pest.


Ditto....Lead, asbestos, radon, and now mold. Mold can be killed with a
simple solution of bleach and water. Recently I had an insurance adjustor willing to pay for all new drywall (bottom half, about 2 feet, water damage, vacant seasonal home) - sprayed it with bleach, wiped it down,
applied drywall primer, and painted - total cost less than $25.
 
...ambient humidity or moisture is any more intense today than it was 50 years ago. Are the houses the problem ?
To some extent Ross this IS the case, , the proliferation of airconditioning (nearly non-existant in the 50's and nearly universal today - even in areas where it is largely gratuitous!) the 'tightening up' of homes and the amount of stuff inside and overall size of the homes ARE issues~

There weren't too many below grade finshed areas in the 'days back when, nor were they as impervious to fresh air circulation...

As I understand it some of the problem IS with a change in the formulation of drywall within the last 7 years, contributing to an even more ideal medium for growth.

Exterior finishes which do not breathe, and windows locked permanently in the 'shut' position are also problems.... any want to place a small wager on future potential for non opening windows being considered functional obsolesence???

Do we simply have quicker, faster and more wide-spread news media
:evil: YES

Environmental issues always come as a trend, and now it is mold.
Yup, but behind most smoke there is at least a little fire... Personally I think it takes some unfortunate combinations and circumstances to cause the most extreme reactions... But it may help explain the proliferation of asthma and other alergic reactions over the last few decades...

Part of the fact that most folks are losing in discussion of the Ballard case, is the fact that much of the 'damages' were punitive for the insurance companies refusal to correctly address the initial problem... as further compounded by that civic minded group 'lawyers'... SHe was bright enough and intense enough to acquire a real hot shot team, which trumped the opposition (Farmers Insurance) rather soundly...
 
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