Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Des Moines, WA

A quick look at Des Moines homes

Des Moines slopes down to Puget Sound, and that slope is cut by the ravines of Des Moines Creek and Massey Creek. The median home was built around 1974, so many houses have older windows, older plumbing and framing that may already carry stains from past leaks. About 61 percent of housing units are owner-occupied, which leaves a sizable share of renters. Hillside lots, ravine edges and cool winters mean groundwater seepage and condensation are common reasons for mold work here. Daylight basements cut into the slope are a frequent trouble spot, because the uphill wall stays damp through the wet season. When clearance is done in a space like that, the assessor should be checking the wall that touches soil, not just the drywall that was replaced.

What to do now

1. Ask the remediation company for its written scope and any moisture logs from the job.
2. Leave containment and air filtration in place until the clearance visit is complete.
3. Book an assessor who has no tie to the removal company.
4. Agree on what counts as a pass: no visible growth, no settled dust, dry readings, and sample results if samples are taken.
5. If the area fails, have the crew re-clean or dry further, then schedule a retest.
6. Only after a pass, start repairs; the City of Des Moines Building Division reviews plans and issues building permits.

What you see and what it usually means

Cost factors

Clearance is priced much like an inspection. HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges put a mold inspection at $300-$650, air samples at $100-$300 and surface samples at $50-$200. In Des Moines, the total depends on the number of rooms in containment, access to crawl spaces on sloped lots, sample count and any retest. Keep the report with your remediation invoice for a future sale.