How I Actually Do This
Most inspectors show up, poke around, and hand you a number.
That's not an inspection. That's a guess with a receipt.
The Philosophy
I spent a decade as an ER nurse. In medicine, you don't guess. You assess, you gather data, you form a differential diagnosis, and then you act. Anything less gets people hurt.
Environmental testing should work the same way. Garbage inputs create garbage outputs. If I cut corners on the inspection, the report is worthless. If the report is worthless, you make decisions based on bad information. Bad decisions cost money. Sometimes health.
"I treat your house like a patient. Which means I take a history, run tests, and explain what I find in words you can actually understand. Unlike some doctors I know."
The Process (In Excruciating Detail)
Here's exactly what happens when I show up. No mystery. No "proprietary methods." Just a systematic approach that actually works.
The Intake (Before I Even Show Up)
I ask questions. Lots of questions. When did you notice the issue? Any water events? Health symptoms? Recent construction? What's the home's age? This isn't small talk—it's triage. Your answers shape where I look and what I test.
Visual Inspection (Eyes Before Gadgets)
I walk through the entire property. Not just the room where you smelled something—the whole thing. Attic, crawlspace, behind furniture, inside cabinets. I'm looking for water stains, discoloration, condensation patterns, and anything that makes my "building intuition" start pinging.
Moisture Mapping
Mold needs water. So I find where water is—or was—or might be. Pin-type moisture meters, non-invasive scanners, thermal imaging where warranted. I'm building a map of moisture conditions throughout the structure. This takes time. I'm not rushing it.
Air & Surface Sampling
Here's where the gadgets come out. Calibrated air sampling pumps pull a known volume of air through collection cassettes. Surface samples capture what's actually growing, not just what's airborne. Every sample is labeled, logged, and documented. Chain of custody matters.
Lab Analysis (By People Smarter Than Me)
Samples go to accredited third-party laboratories. Not my lab. Not a lab I own stock in. Independent labs with actual mycologists who do nothing but analyze samples all day. They identify species, count spores, and send me data I can interpret for you.
The Report (The Actual Deliverable)
You get a written report with findings, photos, lab results, and—most importantly—what it means. Not just numbers. Context. Recommendations. Plain English explanations. If you still have questions after reading it, call me. I'll explain until it makes sense.
"My reports have been called 'overkill' by exactly one person. That person was an insurance adjuster who didn't want to pay for remediation. I consider that a compliment."
The Equipment
I could list brand names and model numbers, but that would be boring. Here's what matters:
🔍 Moisture Detection
Pin-type and non-invasive meters. Thermal imaging camera. I find water others miss.
💨 Air Sampling
Calibrated pumps pulling exact volumes. Spore trap cassettes. Logged and documented.
📸 Documentation
High-resolution photos. Every finding documented. Your report has receipts.
🛡️ Protection
Full PPE when needed. I take contamination seriously—for your sake and mine.
"I've been asked why I have so much equipment in my truck. Apparently most inspectors show up with a flashlight and a 'moisture meter' from Amazon. That explains a lot, actually."
The Standards I Follow
"Standards exist for a reason. If you don't like them, justify deviating—don't ignore them."
Mold Remediation Standard
Water Damage Restoration
Mold Remediation in Buildings
Worker Safety & Health Standards
These aren't suggestions. They're the baseline for doing this work correctly. When I deviate from a standard—which happens—it's documented and justified. Usually because the situation calls for more rigor, not less.
What I Don't Do
Knowing what's not included is just as important as knowing what is.
- Visual-only "inspections" — If I can't test it, I'm guessing. I don't guess.
- Single-sample shortcuts — One sample doesn't tell you anything useful. I take baseline comparisons.
- Same-day results — Lab analysis takes time. Anyone promising instant results is lying or using toys.
- Remediation — I test. I report. I don't remediate.
- Sugar-coating — If there's a problem, I'll tell you. That's what you hired me for.
"A client once asked if I could 'just look around and tell them if it's bad.' I said I could, but then they'd be paying for my opinion instead of data. Opinions are cheap. Data costs money but actually means something."
What You Get
Every inspection ends with a written report. Here's what's in it:
- Executive Summary — The bottom line, up front. What did I find? Is it a problem?
- Detailed Findings — Room-by-room breakdown with photos and measurements.
- Lab Results — Full laboratory reports with species identification and spore counts.
- Moisture Map — Where water was found (or historically present).
- Interpretation — What the numbers actually mean for your situation.
- Recommendations — Clear next steps. Not vague "you might want to consider…" hedging.
The report is yours. Take it to any remediation company you want. Show it to your insurance adjuster. Use it for a real estate transaction. It's documentation that stands on its own.
Why Any of This Matters
Look—you could hire someone cheaper. Someone who shows up with a $20 moisture meter from Harbor Freight and tells you what you want to hear. That's always an option.
But consider what you're actually buying:
- A thorough investigation by someone who's done this in hundreds of properties
- Laboratory-verified data from accredited, independent labs
- A report that will hold up to scrutiny from contractors, insurers, and attorneys
- Clear answers you can actually use to make decisions
- Someone who will explain it until you understand—not rush you off the phone
The cheap option costs less up front. The thorough option costs less in the end. That's the math. I've made my choice. You get to make yours.
"My therapist says I have 'standards issues.' I choose to interpret that as a positive."
Ready to See It in Action?
Schedule an inspection. Ask me questions. I'll show you exactly how this works.
Schedule Your InspectionQuestions first? 580-819-2071