Dignisi
At an apartment viewing, record visible moisture-related signs by location, ask for dated evidence of the cause and repair, and leave unanswered questions open. Describe what you see rather than diagnosing mould: EPA cautions that not everything resembling mould is mould.[2] This is a non-invasive viewing route, not a condition survey.
Walk through accessible areas
- Start with a room-by-room look at visible ceilings, walls and floor edges. Note the exact position of discolouration, peeling finishes or water-like marks. With permission, take a photograph that shows both the location and the detail.
- Continue to the bathroom, kitchen and any accessible utility area. Look at exposed surfaces around fixtures and visible pipes without opening equipment or moving heavy furniture. Record what you could not see, including a covered wall or locked room.
- At windows and accessible corners, note visible droplets or moisture collecting on a surface. Condensation can indicate high humidity, but that is not a diagnosis of its cause.[1] If you already notice a musty smell, record the room; do not deliberately sniff close to a suspect patch.
Keep the description literal: “brown-edged patch on the bedroom ceiling beside the window,” not “roof leak” or “confirmed mould.” Do not scrape, peel wallpaper or open concealed construction. EPA warns that disturbing hidden mould during investigation can spread it.[2]
Trace the reported incident to the repair
For each location, ask the representative: Was a water incident reported here? When? What cause was identified, and by whom? What work addressed that cause, when was it completed, and has the problem reportedly returned?
Request dated repair records and any assessment covering that particular area. Ask who prepared each document, which location it concerns, what work or findings it records, and what remains outside its scope. EPA states that the water or moisture problem must be fully fixed before cleanup can be considered complete.[1] Keep the follow-up focused on the cause, not just the surface finish.
Use separate labels in your note: observation, representative’s report, documents supplied, and unverified. A reported repair date belongs under the representative’s report until a document supports it; the document still needs to be read for what it actually establishes. Mark an unanswered question “unverified,” not “defect confirmed.”
A short note to copy
Apartment / viewing date: __. Location and observation: __. Photo reference / areas not seen: __. Representative’s name and reported incident, cause and repair dates: __. Documents supplied, author, date and scope: __. Unverified: cause / recurrence / repair outcome __. Requested record or professional follow-up, contact and agreed response date: __.
Know where the viewing stops
A clear-looking surface cannot rule out concealed mould: EPA describes growth behind finishes and in other hidden places.[1] If the cause, recurrence or concealed extent remains unresolved, seek an assessment from a professional experienced in locating water and mould problems.[2] Ask for the assessment’s scope and limitations; this checklist does not certify the apartment’s condition.
For separate air-system questions, use the apartment ventilation viewing guide. The EPA sources below are US general guidance, not Armenian legal requirements.
Sources
[1] https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home