The short answer: If you see or smell mold, find and stop the water source, keep the area dry, and try not to disturb it. Then call a licensed mold inspector. A mold inspection finds out what is going on and puts it in writing. It does not remove the mold. Removal, called remediation, is a separate job done by a different company. Finding a dark spot on the ceiling, or catching a musty smell you cannot explain, is stressful. The good news is that you do not have to guess what

That’s the practical value of an independent assessment: you get a diagnosis and a final sign-off from someone whose only product is an honest answer.