Mold has become a growing concern among homeowners in the past few years. As we have started to understand more about microbiology, we have begun to appreciate the adverse health effects and the potentially fatal properties of mold.

There are approximately 100 species of mold that are considered toxic. About 15 of those types of mold are known to cause health problems for humans and animals.

Inspecting for mold can be difficult since mold tends to grow in dark, damp areas of homes, but if you understand the basic principles of how mold forms and grows, you'll know exactly what to look for when inspecting for mold.

• The fee for a basic mold inspection averages from $150 to $400. It is dependent mainly on the size and age of the house and the area of the country.
• A large, older home with a basement may take 4 hours or more to inspect, while a 2,000 square foot home built on a cement slab will take less than 2 hours to inspect.
• Inspections are generally scheduled 3-7 days ahead of time, and a written report is normally submitted the day following an inspection.