Homeowners in Virginia may have noticed that they can get some crazy low bids from out-of-state remediation companies. Well, there’s a reason for that, and it’s not a good one.
Mold companies that venture into Virginia most often do so without the proper licensing to operate in the state.
What difference does that make?
A huge one, and we’ll tell you why.
Except for a brief period in 2011, mold remediators in Virginia have no more requirements to operate than any other home contractor. In contrast, DC has limited rules regarding the remediation industry and, since 2008, Maryland has stiff regulations regarding the mold business demanding that all mold companies look like, well, us.
Virginia, acting as the Wild West of the remediation business, Virginia is an enticing market for those too lazy or incapable to gain mold remediation certification.
While every technician in Valor Mold Removal holds a mold certification and the owner holds every certification available, much of our competition does not.
Those who use these uncertified and unlicensed companies take a huge risk.
Business insurance is a universal reality, and most companies are insured to a certain degree. But that isn’t a guarantee that you are covered if they do something wrong or an accident occurs on your property.
Many of these companies operating over state lines don’t bother with ensuring they can conduct business legally in another state.
Why?
Because it’s a pain and can get expensive. We know, we’ve gone through the process, and it’s about as much fun as you’d suspect.
But those that fail to go through the trouble, yet work out-of-state anyway, do so without the blessing of their insurer.
So if something goes wrong and they damage your home, you’ll have to sue the business owner directly because no insurer covers illegal activity.
That’s bad enough, but it gets far worse if someone is injured.
Say one of the technicians working illegally in your home gets injured on the job. What do you think disability or workers comp will tell them?
Correct, they’ll tell them to go fly a kite.
So, how do they get by until their injury heals or, worse, if it is so severe they can’t work again?
Correct, they come knocking on your door.
And what will your insurer tell you when you tell them you’re being sued for an injury sustained while working illegally in your home?
Yes, more kites.
Suddenly, you’re fighting to keep everything you’ve built all your life.
Why?
Because you thought you could save some money on mold remediation.
The monetary risk is huge, but that’s not the one you should really be worrying about. Remember why these companies seek to work in Virginia instead of where they are based.
The incompetence?
The laziness?
Do you really expect them to do a good job?
We’ve proven with our InstaScope that bad remediation is worse than no remediation. Poor containment, fogging with harsh chemicals instead of proper cleaning, and not looking for the source of the extra moisture are all SOP for these companies.
When they are done, not only did they not solve your problem, they spread it all through your home, which can have serious repercussions for your family’s health.
The more we learn about mold, the more we understand just how seriously it can affect a household. While some molds are considered more dangerous than others, any high concentration of mold spores is bad for your family’s health.
From the merely aggravating like runny noses to the alarming like asthma attacks, mold can cause a variety of symptoms from mild to severe.
The last thing you want is a slap-dash “good enough” style of remediation.
We’ve seen spore counts above 500,000 in homes that have suffered remediation by an untrained mold remediator. Considering that the normal range is in the low thousands – that’s a frightening spike.
Saving a few bucks just isn’t worth the risk of hiring remediators from another state.
If you have a mold problem in your Virginia home and want it handled by true professionals, contact us at Valor Mold Removal for a free estimate.
We remove mold the right way… and it would be an honor to hear from you.
Your home is in the best hands—our chemical-free remediation has the highest success rate in the industry.
You get the answers you need—our special mold testing provides 99% accurate results on the spot.
You can trust our process—we’ve performed over 300 successful projects since we opened in 2006.
Fill out this form to contact us. We’ll follow up with 24 business hours.
Valor Mold Removal is a certified and experienced mold testing and remediation company. We are fully insured and fully licensed. We also provide crawl space encapsulation, soda blasting, humidity control, and air quality cleaning.
