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Tips for Hiring a Mold Remediation or Indoor Air Quality 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. They can also help address any other indoor air quality concerns.

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 cautious of an extremely low estimate, or of a contractor who attempts to scare you into getting more work done than is actually necessary.
  • Get a written inspection report. Make sure the summary includes all the areas inspected, any sampling results, the cause of the mold growth or indoor air quality issue, and how to take care of the problem. Did the contractor show up on time, clean up afterward, and 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 makes the fixes, 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).

Indoor air quality (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 December 26, 2025