Better Living Realty‘s broker adds specialized certifications to eliminate common closing delays and reduce costs for clients
Rob Marucci didn’t get mold and lead certified because he wanted to expand into remediation work. He did it because a kitchen sink was holding up a closing.
The scenario is common enough: during a routine appraisal, an inspector finds mold in a kitchen or bathroom. The mortgage company requires certified removal before closing. The mold company charges $350 or more and hires a specialist who could take weeks to come.
“It took another week. It stalled the closing. It cost the owner $350 just to test,” says Marucci, broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC in Connecticut. “So I went and got Better Living Realty’s affiliated contractor company certified, so we can actually do the test and certify that the mold is removed.”
Both mold and lead issues appear frequently in Connecticut real estate transactions, often derailing deals at the worst possible moment – after inspections, when buyers and sellers have already committed.
For lead, the stakes are regulatory. Any contractor working on homes built before 1978 is supposed to be lead-certified, though Marucci estimates many aren’t. His certification ensures Better Living Realty’s affiliated company can legally handle pre-listing improvements on older properties without exposure or liability.
“If we’re working on a house and we’re doing flooring or ripping up floors and walls and trim, we want to make sure we’re practicing safely,” Marucci explains. “The lead dust can get into your system, and especially if you have kids in the house, you absolutely do not want to practice unsafely.”
The approach differs from testing. Marucci learned this lesson the hard way when buying his first home in 2007. He tested a 1960s property for lead, found it (as expected in any pre-1978 home), and then had to disclose the positive test result every time he rented the property.
“As a buyer, that’s a scary thing to hear – ‘we have lead,'” he notes. “The rule of thumb is homes before ’78 have lead somewhere. You just don’t want any lead hazards like chipping paint, and you don’t want to break down walls without barriers.”
The mold certification revealed unexpected insights. Mold exists everywhere – in every house and throughout the atmosphere. Nature requires it to function. The issue isn’t presence but concentration and moisture sources.
“Every single house has mold under the kitchen or bathroom sink,” Marucci says. “Water gets under there. The question is whether it becomes a problem.”
Modern construction inadvertently created more mold problems. Since the 1990s, energy-efficient building practices have sealed homes tightly, eliminating natural airflow that once cycled air constantly. Simultaneously, the industry shifted from plaster walls (which resist mold) to sheetrock, which attracts it when wet.
“We fixed one problem, using too much energy, but created a problem where now we’re prone to mold growth,” Marucci explains.
For Better Living Realty clients, the certifications translate to faster closings and lower costs. When appraisals or inspections flag mold or lead concerns, Marucci’s team handles remediation and certification in-house rather than waiting for outside specialists.
The move aligns with Marucci’s broader “Curb to Close” program, which provides pre-listing improvements with no upfront seller costs. Adding mold and lead capabilities removes two common obstacles that can delay or kill deals.
“We’re not looking to do big mold remediation jobs,” Marucci clarifies. “But mold comes up in certain transactions and really scares people. We wanted to learn more about it and help with that process.”
For Connecticut sellers preparing properties in a market that’s shifted from pandemic-era frenzy to more balanced conditions, eliminating potential transaction delays before listing has become increasingly valuable.
About Better Living Realty LLC
Better Living Realty is a Connecticut-based real estate brokerage founded in 2010, serving buyers, sellers, and investors with a team of 30 agents. The company’s owner holds both real estate broker and contractor licenses, along with lead and mold certifications.
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