Good to know first: you don't need to do any of this to ask us for a number, and a title company handles the closing paperwork. This page is here if you want the background.
What the health agencies say
We aren't mold experts, and we don't tell owners how to clean a house. These are the agencies' words, and each one has more on its own page.
| Agency | Main point |
|---|---|
| US EPA | Moisture control is the key to mold control. Materials dried within 24 to 48 hours generally don't grow it. |
| Minnesota Department of Health | Dry wet materials in 24 to 48 hours. Porous things growing mold, such as carpet, drywall, and insulation, should be bagged and thrown away. |
| Wisconsin DHS | Doesn't recommend mold testing, since there are no federal limits for airborne mold. It says to find the moisture source and fix it. After a flood, dry and ventilate within 24 to 48 hours. |
If someone in the home is having coughing, wheezing, or a sore throat, especially with asthma or allergies, see a doctor and call the state health department. That comes before any sale.
Do you have to fix it before selling?
We didn't find a law in either state saying so. It's a question of who pays and what you tell people. You can fix it, price it in, or find a buyer willing to take it. A bank-financed buyer may be the one who can't, for reasons on the financing page.
Do you have to tell a buyer about it?
We found no statute about mold by name. Our reading, not a legal opinion: mold you know about could be a material fact that could seriously hurt a buyer's use and enjoyment. Treat it that way and ask an attorney.
The report asks point blank: are you aware of unsafe levels of mold? It also asks about basement or foundation defects, including cracks and seepage. Those answers have to be made with honesty in fact.
Old stains and fixed leaks
A leak you fixed years ago isn't the same as one that's still running, and that's worth saying plainly to a buyer. Write down what happened, when, who fixed it, and whether it has come back. Keep the invoice with that note. A buyer can then judge the facts instead of imagining the worst from a water line on a wall.
Is it worth fixing first?
Often, when the problem is small and fresh. A single burst supply line, caught quickly and dried out, can be a cheap fix, and selling a house at a problem-house price for that would be a waste. It's a harder call when the water keeps coming, the walls are full of it, or nobody has found the source. Get a quote from a contractor who doesn't also sell the cure for what they find, then put it in the worksheet.
What we do with these houses
We buy houses with wet basements and water damage as they sit, and we price the work into the number. You don't repair or clean first. Expect us to ask what you know, and expect that a house with a live water problem won't bring what a dry one does. If that gap looks larger than the repair quote, fixing it is the better deal for you, and we'd rather you know that.
Sources for this page
Pages we read on 2026-11-05. Laws change, so check the current version or ask an attorney.