There are a number of little things to look out for when purchasing a new home. Normally the things to consider include such things as location, wiring, the condition of the house itself, and several other factors. One of these factors that the home buying public is becoming more concerned with is mold.
There are many different types of mold that can occur in a home and lead not only to structural damage but some health concerns as well. Mold is hard to see in many homes as it grows solely in dark and moist places that are typically hidden somewhere in the structural areas of the home like basements and attics. By the time mold appears in the actual living areas, odds are that it is everywhere in the home.
One of the most likely areas for mold to form is wherever that moisture is inappropriately vented. Another area of worry is if a home has once flooded and was not entirely or well cleaned and dried after. Leaking plumbing and basement crawlspaces are other possible places.
Mold can be a hard thing to totally remove as the only thing it needs to continue growing is an organic material like wood and moisture. Both of these things are normally much in any home. The most probable was that moisture gets into the home through damaged or leaking roofs and foundations.
These places should be checked thoroughly by an experienced mold inspector on a fairly regular basis if there is any concern of mold starting to develop, or in case there has been mold in the past. Mold can be a costly issue to deal with so be pro-active about looking for it, it can save you money in the long run.