In short: a mold inspection in Fort Myers starts with moisture, not samples. We find where the water is with meters and a thermal camera and tell you what needs removing, at no charge. When you need lab proof, an independent Florida-licensed mold assessor takes air or surface samples: about $450–$900 with two to four samples, or $300–$700 for a clearance test after the work.
What our inspection covers
Our visit answers three questions: where the moisture is, where it is coming from, and how much material it has affected. We use a pin meter for wood and drywall, a non-invasive meter to scan wall surfaces quickly, a thermal camera to show cool, damp patterns behind paint, and a hygrometer to read the humidity in each room. We check the usual Lee County suspects, including the air handler closet and drain line, the bathroom walls behind showers and vanities, the base of exterior block walls, slider tracks and window corners, and the attic above any ceiling stain. You get a short written summary, the scope of work it points to, and a price.
When a lab test is worth it
- A smell with no visible source. Air samples taken inside and outside can show whether indoor spore counts are elevated and which kinds dominate.
- Before buying a house or condo, especially one that has been closed up for the summer or sat through a hurricane.
- After a flood or surge, when the insurer or a lender wants a baseline before work starts.
- After remediation, as a clearance test, before the containment comes down and walls are closed up.
- For a tenant, landlord or condo association dispute, where a neutral written report settles more than opinions.
When the mold is plainly visible and the cause is known, testing usually adds cost without changing the plan.
Why the assessor is independent
Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators separately under chapter 468 of the state statutes, and it keeps the two apart: a remediator may not perform the assessment on a structure it has remediated within the past twelve months, and an assessor may not remediate a structure it assessed in that time. The point is to stop anyone from writing a scary report and then selling the fix. We follow that line. Our inspection scopes our own work; sampling and clearance are done by an assessor who has no stake in the job. You can check any assessor's or remediator's license by name at myfloridalicense.com.
How to read a lab report
Air sample results come back as spore counts per cubic meter for each type of mold, inside and out. What matters is the comparison. Indoor counts well above the outdoor control, or indoor types that barely appear outside, such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, point to growth inside the house. Indoor counts at or below outdoor levels with a similar mix usually mean ordinary outdoor spores drifting in. Surface samples, taken with tape or a swab, confirm what a visible stain is. The assessor's report should explain all of this in plain words; if it does not, ask.
What it costs
| Job | Estimate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Visual mold assessment (no samples) | $200–$400 | A licensed assessor's walk-through and written findings for an average house |
| Assessment with 2–4 air or surface samples | $450–$900 | The above plus lab analysis, with an outdoor control sample |
| Post-remediation clearance test | $300–$700 | Visual check and samples inside the work area before the containment comes down |
| Our moisture inspection for an estimate | Free | Meters and thermal camera to find the source and scope the work |
Assessor fees are estimates from published Florida pricing and are paid to the assessor, not to us. Lab fees and sample counts vary; larger homes and post-storm inspections cost more. Our own moisture inspection and estimate are free.
Inspection and testing questions
Is mold testing worth paying for?
If you can already see mold, a lab test mostly confirms what you know; the money is better spent finding the moisture. Testing earns its fee when you smell something you cannot find, before you buy a house, after a flood, or to prove a remediation worked.
Why don't you test your own work?
Florida law bars a mold remediator from performing the mold assessment on a building it has remediated within the past twelve months, and bars assessors from remediating buildings they assessed. Independent clearance also means you are not taking our word for it.
What does a home mold test kit tell me?
Not much. Settle plates from the hardware store grow mold in almost every Florida home, because spores are everywhere outdoors. Without an outdoor comparison sample and a lab count, the result does not tell you whether there is a problem indoors.
Found water behind the wall? Our water damage drying page explains what happens next, and the price guide covers remediation costs.
Last updated October 8, 2026