What a complete mold inspection report covers

1. Who inspected, and their ties

   • The name of the person who did the inspection, and each credential they hold with the organization that issued it.
   • The date of the visit and the date of the report.
   • Whether the inspector or their company does remediation, refers work to a remediator, or receives referral fees.

2. What was inspected, and what wasn’t

   • What the inspection was for: the question it was meant to answer, such as finding the source of a leak or checking a whole home.
   • The rooms and areas inspected, including spaces such as the attic, crawlspace, basement, and heating and cooling system if they were checked.
   • Areas that could not be reached or were not checked, and why.
   • What it would take to check those areas.

3. Moisture and where it comes from

   • Where moisture or water damage was found, with locations and photos.
   • The tools used, such as a moisture meter or thermal camera, and the readings where they matter, with what each reading means.
   • The likely source of each moisture problem, or what is needed to find it.

   EPA’s guide for homes says the key to mold control is moisture control. A report that finds mold without the moisture behind it leaves the cause in place.

4. What was found

   • Visible mold growth and damaged materials, with locations, rough size and photos.
   • Other conditions noted, such as odors, condensation or past repairs.
   • What the inspector saw or measured, kept separate from what they concluded from it.

5. Samples, if any were taken

   • Why each sample was taken: the question it was meant to answer.
   • Where each sample was taken, the type of sample and the method.
   • The laboratory’s name and its results, attached.
   • What the results can and can’t tell you.

   Sampling isn’t needed in every case. NIOSH says short-term air sample results can’t be read as a health risk and may miss real exposures.

6. Next steps

   • Fixing each moisture source, first.
   • Which areas and materials need remediation, tied to the findings above.
   • Whether a remediation plan, sometimes called a protocol, is included or separate.
   • What would show the work is complete, and who could check it.
   • Who is responsible for each next step, and whether the inspector will follow up.

7. Limits

   • What the report can’t tell you, such as conditions in places that weren’t checked.
   • What remains uncertain, and what would help resolve it.
   • A plain statement that it describes the building, not anyone’s health.

Who inspected, and their ties:
- The name of the person who did the inspection, and each credential they hold with the organization that issued it.
- The date of the visit and the date of the report.
- Whether the inspector or their company does remediation, refers work to a remediator, or receives referral fees.

What was inspected, and what wasn’t:
- What the inspection was for: the question it was meant to answer, such as finding the source of a leak or checking a whole home.
- The rooms and areas inspected, including spaces such as the attic, crawlspace, basement, and heating and cooling system if they were checked.
- Areas that could not be reached or were not checked, and why.
- What it would take to check those areas.

Moisture and where it comes from:
- Where moisture or water damage was found, with locations and photos.
- The tools used, such as a moisture meter or thermal camera, and the readings where they matter, with what each reading means.
- The likely source of each moisture problem, or what is needed to find it.

What was found:
- Visible mold growth and damaged materials, with locations, rough size and photos.
- Other conditions noted, such as odors, condensation or past repairs.
- What the inspector saw or measured, kept separate from what they concluded from it.

Samples, if any were taken:
- Why each sample was taken: the question it was meant to answer.
- Where each sample was taken, the type of sample and the method.
- The laboratory’s name and its results, attached.
- What the results can and can’t tell you.

Next steps:
- Fixing each moisture source, first.
- Which areas and materials need remediation, tied to the findings above.
- Whether a remediation plan, sometimes called a protocol, is included or separate.
- What would show the work is complete, and who could check it.
- Who is responsible for each next step, and whether the inspector will follow up.

Limits:
- What the report can’t tell you, such as conditions in places that weren’t checked.
- What remains uncertain, and what would help resolve it.
- A plain statement that it describes the building, not anyone’s health.

Questions to ask an inspector · What a complete remediation scope covers