Mold Inspection in Portland, TN

What happens after you call

Your call is routed to an independent company that inspects homes in and around Portland. Tell them whether the house is site-built or manufactured, which rooms smell or show staining, and whether you've seen water in the yard or under the home. They'll book a visit, check the exterior drainage, then go through the living areas, the crawl space or underfloor area, and the attic with moisture meters. The written results should list each damp area, its probable cause and a suggested cleanup scope.

What shapes the price

Angi's national figures put mold inspection at $303 to $1,075, with an average near $689; Middle Tennessee prices vary. For Portland homes the biggest variables are:

• Access under the home, whether that's a crawl space hatch or manufactured-home skirting that has to come off.
• The number of rooms and floors with symptoms.
• Whether sampling is added, which EPA says is usually unnecessary when growth is visible.

Local conditions

Portland sits up on the Highland Rim and spans the Sumner-Robertson county line. The county flood study says Donoho Branch floods frequently because of sinkholes and the way the land drains, and the Portland Flood Channel was finished in 1997 to reduce that flooding. During the May 2017 flash flooding across Sumner County, Portland saw several rescues. About 11 percent of homes in the city are mobile or manufactured, and those have their own weak spots: underbelly wrap that traps water, plumbing runs beneath the floor, and roof seams. More than a third of homes are rented. Leaks a landlord won't address can be reported to the City of Portland Building Codes Department, which handles property nuisance complaints and also issues repair permits inside city limits. If the home sits on the Robertson County side, a residential remediation job of $3,000 to under $25,000 calls for a state Home Improvement license; check bidders on TDCI's Verify a License search.

Before the visit

• Clear access to the crawl space or a section of skirting.
• List leaks, overflows or standing water you've seen, with rough dates.
• Confirm which county your property is in from your tax bill.
• Leave stains and growth as they are for the inspector to see.