SPECIAL MOLD REPORT

MOLDwhat is it and where does it comes from? Did you know that there are literally over 100,000 different
types of molds all over the world? Some molds are good; take for instance, decomposition of leaves breaking down, wood and other plant fibers. Certain food items such as cheese and medicine come from mold. However mold growth not wanted can be a huge problem for you and your family. Toxic mold may cause serious illness and even death at times. Mold has been a problem since biblical times and during the past 10 years several molds have been identified as one of the causes of (Sick Building Syndrome) as well as other health problems! Mold spores are invisible to the human eye and they are in the air almost all the time. They come through windows, doors, and also on our clothing and pets.

Where mold grows Attics, basements, bathroom, books, carpeting, ceilings, clothing , crawl space, drapes,
drywall, garbage disposal, heating, humidifiers, leather items, paint, paper, plants, rags, upholstered furniture, Walls siding leak, wallpaper, wood products

Frequent causes of mold

Basement flooding Closeness to a lake, river or ocean Clothes dryer exhausting into a wall or attic Construction defects Firewood indoors High indoor humidity Inadequate ventilation Indoor plants Overflow of tubs, toilets and any plumbing leak(s) Roof and exterior siding leak Wooded setting Wet clothes

10 Facts you should know about mold

1. Mold spores can cause serious health problems even if the spores are dead or dormant (inactive while waiting for more moisture to resume growth). Just the smell of mold can make some mold sensitive people sick! 2. Mold grows by eating and destroying organic building materials and other cellulose-based materials such as carpeting, upholstery, and clothing. 3. Cellulose is the main substance in the cell walls of plants, wood and is used to manufacture organic building materials like drywall, plasterboard, plywood and ceiling tiles. 4. Airborne mold spores are everywhereboth indoors and outdoors! 5. The most dangerous indoor molds are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. MOLD TEST & LAB results will identify the type of mold species present. 6. It is impossible to get rid of all mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will always be present in house dust and mixing in the air circulation. 7. Mold spores will not grow into colonies if there isnt enough moisture to sustain the colony. Controlling the indoor moisture levels within your home will control mold levels. However, if any organic materials are wet for more than 24 hours then mold can start to grow! 8. Mold can grow in hidden areas and behind walls or ceiling cavities, underneath wallpaper, heating & air conditioning ducts, or any other area that moisture can enter. 9. Mold growth is often the result of severe flooding, weather, accidental discharge of plumbing system, construction defects and workmanship. 10. In order to control mold you need to stop the moisture or water source, then dry out immediately and finally treat with an EPA registered fungicide.

Mold Testing & Lab Reports dictate the protocol for mold remediation and often these reports can be very detailed and stringent (Take a look at the following sample reports )

LAB RESULTS &MOLD TESTING Protocol #2

INSURANCE MATTERS & CONCERNS!!!

Mold remediation can be very expensive. Check out this small job for $23,555.22
If you cannot get the insurance company to pay for the clean up then you better be ready for a long expensive endeavor. This is why you really need to understand YOUR insurance policy and know where to look for coverage and more importantly the exclusions that surround mold claims these days!

Mold Exclusions & Policy Interpretation Regarding Mold Claims!

Insurance companies will be coming at you in a few directions when mold is the topicso be ready and pay attention. Look for the (MOLD EXCLUSIONS) part of YOUR policy
Lets face it most insurance companies are trying to deny mold coverage or at best place a limit on mold remediation. They do not want to pay the kind of money it takes to remediate mold claims!

You as a property owner should fully understand the issues that surround mold claims these days. After all, it is your property and money we are speaking about here. So take a break and find your insurance policy and pay attention!

The #1 Mold Exclusion used by adjusters in the industry usually is located in the SECTION 1 PERILS INSURED AGAINST or LOSSES INSURED part of a policy, specifically, under the heading similar to (We do not insure, cover, pay for a loss not insured) which usually follows the very first paragraph after Coverage A Dwelling and Coverage B Other
structures. This is where it states that you are insured against direct physical loss to property, but not, insured for loss caused by any of the following: Dry rot, wet rot, mold and etc... Look for the wear, tear and marring, dry rot and on going repetitive seepage exclusion. This is very important to understand and you must not accept a denial letter based on a wear & tear or repetitive exclusion that doesnt apply to your loss.

It is our opinion that this type of mold exclusion comes from a loss that is not covered in the first place. Example: taking showers over a long period of time without having proper ventilation can develop a mold problem. It is our opinion and experience that this type of mold is not a covered loss. Therefore, any mold remediation associated with this type of scenario is generally excluded. On the other hand, if your plumbing system developed a leak or accidental discharge of water that escapes a plumbing system and the mold growth was a direct result of that leak, then this type of mold remediation should be covered because the loss is considered to be an insurable loss under certain policies. Only (3) policies out of the (5) homeowner policy types cover plumbing leaks and there are some companies that offer an endorsement that pays for the issuing water damage. Remember, interpretation is the key! Any questions contact me at (215) 364.4546 or send me an email at propertyclaimtips.com select the Contact Us tab. Water Damage Exclusionssuch as surface water, tidal water, flood water and or water that backs up from a sewer and or drain is usually a common exclusion, unless you have a policy or were sold an endorsement that provides coverage for this type of water damage. If mold develops from this type of water damage then chances are you are going to be denied entirely and the cost to remediate will come out of your pocket.

Another important area to look at is the SECTION 1 EXCLUSIONS part of the policy. You should know the limits for what your policy will pay for and make sure to make a good argument to get
the surplus or extra expense over the mold limit as the result of water damage not mold. This limit can fall under the building limits of COVERAGE (A) DWELLING & COVERAGE (C) PERSONAL PROPERTY. Some policies only allow $5,000.00, $10,000.00 dollars to remediate. Others will allow more and you better understand that the difference will be coming out of your own pocket if you can not negotiate coverage under these limits. Remember the above mold remediation invoice for $23,555.22 which is considered small in the arena of mold claims. If you have a $5,000.00 limit then you can see clearly that you could have a major problem that could literally cost you thousands of dollars. Therefore, when faced with this type of problem ask the adjuster what came first. In order for mold to grow it needs moisture. Well, where did the moisture come from? YES, the plumbing system. Therefore, any remediation of mold needed is from the direct result of WATER DAMAGE. Keep this line of thinking and approach.

Depending on your policy you could have a mold exclusion built right into your policy or an endorsement that was added when you renewed your policy adding or deleting coverage. Check all endorsements sent to you by your insurance company regarding Fungi, Mold and etc

Also you should review the SECTION 1 CONDITIONS part of the policy or your DECLARATIONS PAGE seeing if there is a limit associated for mold remediation.
Make sure you understand what your limit is! Policy Limit of only $5,000.00

Example of a $10,000.00 limit for mold remediation

CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange)

How insurance companies use CLUE reports An insurance company may request a CLUE report when you apply for coverage or request a quote. The company uses your claims history or the history of claims at a specific property to determine if it will offer you coverage and how much you will pay. They believe past claims indicate that you're likely to file a claim in the future. CLUE is a report of claims information generated by Choice Point, a consumer reporting agency. Insurance companies report claim information to Choice Point, such as type of claim and how much was paid out on a claim. Thats rightwhen you have a mold problem from a water loss it most likely will be reported to CLUE. Therefore if you ever go to sell your home then chances are that the potentially new buyer will need to apply for homeowners insurance as well in order to get a mortgage. The new insurance company insuring that risk will order a CLUE report requesting a certificate of mold remediation. A CLUE report generally contains up to five years of personal auto or property claim history. A CLUE report contains:

Your name Date of birth Policy number Date of loss Type of loss Amount of loss Description of the covered property Property address (for homeowner coverage) Specific vehicle information for auto coverage

How to get a CLUE report The Fair Credit Reporting Act entitles you to a copy of your CLUE report. To request a copy of your CLUE report, contact: Choice Point Consumer Disclosure, P.O. Box 105108, Atlanta, GA 30348-5108 toll free 1-866-527-2600.

Please note if you would like a copy of the CLUE report on a property that you would like to purchase then the owner must request it. Correcting false information on a CLUE report If you discover an error in your CLUE report, contact Choice Point's Consumer Center at toll free 1-866-718-7684. They will verify your information with the reporting insurance company and notify you of the results within 30 days. If you feel an item in your CLUE report deserves an explanation, you can submit a personal statement, which Choice Point will add to all future CLUE reports. Choice Point guidelines for reporting claims information Insurers should not report claims information when a consumer contacts them merely to ask a question about coverage or their deductible.

NOTICE: The information provided in this special report was obtained from sources believed to be accurate. The information
is provided as a FREE Bonus for you order. If medical or legal advice or assistance is required, the services of a competent, licensed medical doctor or attorney should be sought.

Up to this point any and all information provided in this Special Report has been the property of Property Claim Tips, LLC and is hereby under copy right law 2008.
Thank you,

(C) 2008 Rick Kinney (215) 364.4546 www.propertyclaimtips.com propertyclaimtips@verizon.net Below are governmental web sites and information that are not the property of Property Claim Tips, LLC and do not apply to said copy rights herein.

FREE Governmental Resourcesthat are absolutely fantastic! http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldguide.pdf http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ/Got_Mold.html http://www.wwpa.org/pdf/FF-Mold%2003.pdf

"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" Contact Us Search:

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You are here: EPA Home Air Indoor Air Quality Mold A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home Contents

Office of Air and Radiation Indoor Environments Division (6609J) EPA 402-K-02-003, 2002

Mold Basics o Why is mold growing in my home? o Can mold cause health problems? o How do I get rid of mold? Mold Cleanup o Who should do the cleanup? Mold Cleanup Guidelines What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas o How Do I Know When the Remediation or Cleanup is Finished? Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips o Actions that will help to reduce humidity o Actions that will help prevent condensation o Testing or sampling for mold Hidden Mold o Cleanup and Biocides Additional Resources Una Breve Gua para el Moho, la Humedad y su Hogar est disponible en el formato PDF (PDF, 20 pp, 796KB About PDF). Documento de la agencia EPA nmero 402-K-03-008.

PDF Version (PDF, 20 pp, 1.2MB About PDF)

Acknowledgements
Mold Publications

The publication, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", is available in HTML and PDF (PDF, 20 pp, 1.2MB About PDF) [EPA 402-K-02-003] Una Breve Gua para el Moho, la Humedad y su Hogar est disponible en el formato PDF (PDF, 20 pp, 796KB About PDF). [Documento de la agencia EPA nmero 402-K-03-008]

The publication, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings", is available in HTML and PDF (PDF, 54 pp, 5MB About PDF) [EPA 402-K-01-001, March 2001] Order publications from EPA's NSCEP. Use the EPA Document Number when ordering. We would like to thank Paul Ellringer, PE, CIH, for providing the photo of mold on the back of wallpaper in the Hidden Mold section. Should you like to use some of the photos used in this guide, higher quality print versions are available in the Mold Gallery. These photos may be used for presentations and educational purposes without contacting EPA. Please note that this document presents recommendations. EPA does not regulate mold or mold spores in indoor air.

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Last updated on Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html Print As-Is Jump to main content. Other Mold Websites http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.moldknowledge.com/mold%2520skin%2520rash %2520photo1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.moldknowledge.com/&h=280&w=387&sz=19&tbnid=Br9lGXl9n42EVM: &tbnh=89&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmold%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1 http://www.moldinspector.com/attic-mold.htm Thank you, Rick Kinney (215) 364.4546 www.propertyclaimtips.com propertyclaimtips@verizon.net