Skip to main content

Mold: Tips for Hiring a Mold Remediation Contractor or Consultant

Why hire a consultant or contractor?

Testing for mold is generally not necessary. If you can see and smell mold in your home, mold is present. Mold is usually a symptom of a bigger problem related to inadequate ventilation and a buildup of moisture. Homes with high moisture (also called "high relative humidity"), stagnant water, or leaking are more susceptible to mold growth.

If you have a problem with high humidity or excess water, you may need to hire a consultant or home performance specialist. Home Performance Consultants conduct indoor air quality (IAQ) investigations, and can determine when structural issues exist that may be causing mold problems (such as ice dams, moisture, and heating and cooling complaints). They can help you understand why mold is growing in your home and what actions you will need to take to prevent mold growth.

Tips on hiring

Below are suggestions on how to find good consultants and contractors. (This list is based on guidelines provided by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).)

  • Get more than one estimate. Make sure all parties are bidding on exactly the same work. Make sure the contractor comes to the job site rather than giving a telephone estimate. Be leery of an extremely low estimate. Be cautious of a contractor or consultant that uses SCARE tactics to make you do more than you really need to have done.
  • Get a written inspection report. Did it include a summary of all the areas inspected, the cause of the mold growth, how to take care of the problem and any sampling results? Did the contractor show up on time, clean up afterward, perform follow-up service on warranties?
  • A building cannot be made mold free. Avoid a contractor who claims to remove all mold from your building.
  • Find out if complaints have been filed against the contractor or consultant by checking with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 800-422-7128, and the Better Business Bureau, 800-273-1002.
  • The firm that conducts the inspection or air sampling should not be financially related to a firm that conducts the mold remediation due to a potential conflict of interest. Consulting firms that have a financial tie to a contractor should disclose that relationship prior to any contractual agreement. Ultimately, it is the property owner's responsibility to ask about such a relationship.
  • Select a laboratory that is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) or by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

IAQ service providers may be found in local listings. In addition, national IAQ organizations’ websites also list members who provide consulting services. The Wisconsin Department of Health does not endorse, license or regulate the providers listed on the websites below. Please be advised that not all consultants listed provide services for homeowners.

Neither the federal government nor the Department of Health Services certifies consultants or contractors for conducting mold investigations or removing mold from buildings. If a consultant or contractor advertises as "State Certified" or "State Endorsed," please refer their name to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Fraud Division, 800-422-7128, for deceptive trade practices.

Glossary

 
Last revised October 21, 2025