Ricky LaFleur
Junior Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2020
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Kansas
I have some family that are looking at buying a house as a foreclosure that included a walk-out basement. The house apparently was vacant for at least a year, and the bank had the carpet in the basement removed along with some of the drywall near the floor and some built-in cabinetry. It didn't seem as though there was a serious level of water standing for extended time as I couldn't see obvious water marks along the walls, but there was what looked like signs of mildew on everything from drywall, doors, trim, etc in parts of the basement. The house had some water leak in on an upper story, which might've leaked down to the basement, or there may have been some other source. The bank was obviously taking precaution by removing the carpet and lower drywall (why carpet in a basement, I'll never know). Pictures would have been helpful, but I didn't think to take any while I was there. Most of the discoloration I could see was nearly white in color (hard to see on drywall without flashlight at the right angle), with only some places under cabinets being darker colored.
My family was thinking a rag with some bleach would be sufficient to wipe everything down and be good to go, but I've always heard it was much harder to completely rid of mold/mildew once it started. Do you have first hand experience with cleanup and removal and how costly/serious it is or isn't?
My family was thinking a rag with some bleach would be sufficient to wipe everything down and be good to go, but I've always heard it was much harder to completely rid of mold/mildew once it started. Do you have first hand experience with cleanup and removal and how costly/serious it is or isn't?