Yay for new house. Okay, I am really going now.

---

work is killing me and I am sick, but the life stuff is all good.

hrmm. There's not as much good in there as there should be. But I'm glad life is good, that's the most important part.

---

I am pretty worried about Dr. H. And I'm saying that here because Buffistas don't think worrying over TV people is craxy. Also, never knew Cameron was so kinky. I can't decide if that makes me more or less like her.

---

I missed Dr. House while I was at the theatre. I wish I had DVR.

My mother is driving me crazy/and or going crazy, and I am not sure what to do. She is on one of those worry brain-loop things that can't be broken and I just want to shake her and yell "Snap Out of It!". But it is sort of serious, so I have some questions for homeowners. My mother is in her early 60's and owns a home in a fairly high priced area, but the house is not in good condition-- there is some bad wiring, apparantly there are cracks in the plaster (I can't see very many more than my apartment and my mother is almost blind, so I am not really sure that the house is actually going to fall on her head), and the worst thing is that her cellar flooded and is still damp and now there is mold. She has a dirt celler, so it sounds like there is mildew on the dirt?

Anyway, my mother has convinced herself that this is killer mold and she is afraid to call someone in to look at the mold because she can't afford to have her house demolished and move out right away. She is almost hysterical about this, and is thinking about moving to an apartment and just leaving her house there until she dies, because she is afraid that there is too much wrong with the house and she won't be able to sell it without putting all her money into it, and therefore having no money to live on. I can't imagine that, unless there is really killer mold, she can't somehow sell her house "as is", even if it means not making that much money. The area is up and coming, so her land is worth something at least.

Anyway, does anyone know anything about a) selling houses in poor condition or b) who to call to make sure you don't have killer mold. Also, my mom is convinced all the repair perople in town are in cahoots with this man who wants to take her house away from her and get it declared unlivable so he can have the land, so she doesn't want to call someone from her town.

---

Sophia, I am thinking that pouring a water/bleach solution over the dirt floor in the cellar may take care of most of the problem.

It should be easy to hire a discreet professional house inspector (who doesn't drive up in a flashy "HOUSE INSPECTIONS 'R US -- CONDEMNABLE HOUSES A SPECIALTY!!!!1!" truck) who can give a sober and informed opinion on what's really wrong.

I think my house inspector charged around $300, but that's over 6 years ago now, so my memory has faded. However, it would go a long way to establishing -- from an impartial third party, not a shady contractor looking to convince your mom that she needs far more repairs than necessary -- just what is really wrong, and in what order things must be done to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, I don't know any housing inspectors in your area, but I do know there's an official organization that reputable ones are generally a member of, so some Googling on your part may pay off.

---

Theo is good on the home front. If the neighborhood is up and coming, your mother will be able to sell the house no matter what is wrong with it. In a slightly ridiculous housing market (fancy Boston suburb), a couple of years ago some family friends sold their little ranch house for $450K - and the buyers tore it down. Also, just as an aside, "Killer mold" is vanishingly rare in areas that have cold winters. Those horrible cases you see on TV are all in the humid south.

I am a little worried about your mother, though. Is this paranoia affecting other areas of her life? Does she see a regular doctor you could ask for advice about her? I know you are her only family, and I gather she has always been eccentric, but if there is something treatable mentally going on with her, it would be a help to have some doctor input.

---

Those horrible cases you see on TV are all in the humid south.

We see them locally, flea. That said, it seems to me it's usually always in newish (for this area) homes.

Sophia, if the mold or mildew is only on the floor (or even the basement walls), I'd try Theo's bleach suggestion. I think that mold is mostly a problem when it gets into wood, plaster, and the like.

I'd go with Theo's inspector suggestion too, and what flea said about your mom (does she have an anxiety disorder?).

---

I am now doomed to a morning investigating Killer Mold. Here's a sensible Q&A: [link]

---

With ya flea. I see the bleach and water suggestion and there are some other ideas here. [link] That article also mentioned that mold can contribute to depression.

Homes in good areas here are often sold in terrible condition and then either torn down or gutted and redone. The last house I sold was torn down. I should have stripped more out of it!

eta: I would also suggest finding a good realtor in the area.

---

You can find a home inspector on the American Society of Home Inspectors' site [link] Home inspectors are private contractors, and, as far as I know, have no obligation to report killer mold to the government. The society's code says:

Inspectors shall not disclose inspection results or client information without client approval. Inspectors, at their discretion, may disclose observed immediate safety hazards to occupants exposed to such hazards, when feasible.

I had a pretty bad bout of mildew about four years ago, but it turned out that I had a leak in the roof. Fixing the roof and the liberal use of bleach and water solved the problem and it hasn't returned. If it's just mildew on surfaces, it's probably not killer mold.

---