By Super Green Environmental — Licensed Mold Assessor #MRSA2418, serving Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties
Quick answer: Hire a mold assessor who holds a current Florida license, does not perform mold remediation, uses an accredited laboratory, and gives you a written report you can hand to a contractor, insurer, or attorney. The nine questions below let you check each of those before you book.
1. Are you licensed as a Florida mold assessor?
Florida requires mold assessors to be licensed, and the license is issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The statute makes it unlawful to perform or offer mold assessment without complying with the licensing requirements. Ask for the license number and verify it on the DBPR license search. Ours is MRSA2418.
2. Do you or any affiliated company perform mold remediation?
Under Florida Statutes § 468.8419(1)(d), an assessor or the assessor’s company may not perform or offer to perform mold remediation on a structure it assessed within the previous 12 months. The cleanest answer is a plain “no, we never do remediation.” Read why in why testing and remediation should never come from the same company.
3. Do you receive referral fees from remediation companies?
An assessor who is paid for sending you to a contractor has the same incentive problem as one who does the work. We do not refer jobs and do not accept referral fees, so you choose your own bidders.
4. Which laboratory analyzes the samples, and is it accredited?
Air and surface samples should go to an accredited third-party laboratory. Ask which laboratory the assessor uses and which accreditation it holds, and make sure the lab report is included with your findings.
5. What does the inspection include?
A thorough assessment is more than a walkthrough. It should include a visual inspection, moisture readings, an outdoor control sample for comparison with indoor air samples, and a search for the water source. If there is a lower-priced option that skips sampling, make sure you understand what you are not getting. Our mold inspection cost guide explains what each level covers.
6. Will the report be in writing, and how fast?
Insist on a written report with lab results, photo documentation, and clear findings, not a verbal summary. A typical on-site inspection takes 45–90 minutes, and lab results and the written report are typically back within 24–48 hours.
7. Can the report support an insurance claim or legal dispute?
Insurers make their own coverage decisions and no assessor can promise an outcome. What you want is a report with documented findings from a licensed assessor with no stake in the repair work. See insurance and legal support for what our reports include.
8. Do you offer post-remediation verification?
After remediation, an independent clearance test confirms the work was done correctly. It should come from someone other than the remediator. Learn more about remediation protocols and post-remediation verification.
9. How do you handle pricing and pressure?
Ask for the full price in writing before the visit. Be cautious with “free” inspections from companies that also sell removal, with pressure to sign a remediation contract on the spot, and with quotes that are fixed before any testing has happened.
Red flags at a glance
- No license number on the website, estimate, or report
- The same company, or a sister company, offers to remove the mold
- A free inspection that leads straight to a remediation quote
- No written report, or no laboratory results
- No outdoor comparison sample when air samples are taken
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to inspect for mold in Florida?
Yes. Florida Statutes § 468.8419 prohibits performing or offering mold assessment unless the person has complied with the state’s licensing requirements.
How much does a mold inspection cost in Florida?
It depends on property size and how many samples are needed. Our cost guide breaks it down, and our mold testing page lists the service levels.
What is the difference between mold testing and air quality testing?
Mold testing finds out whether mold is present and where moisture is coming from. Air quality testing measures a wider set of airborne contaminants. See mold testing vs. air quality testing.
To schedule an independent inspection, call 833-431-6653 or request an inspection online.