Preparing your home before a mould remediation crew arrives takes less than an hour and makes the job run more smoothly, more safely, and sometimes at a lower final cost. The most important thing a homeowner can do is not disturb any visible mould before the crew gets there: that spreads spores through the air and can expand the contamination zone beyond what the inspection mapped. For a detailed walk-through of what happens on the day itself, see what a mould remediation day actually looks like. This checklist focuses on the preparation steps that help.
Quick answer (BLUF)
The night before a mould remediation job: clear personal items from the work area as directed by the scope, arrange parking near the entry, confirm pets and children have somewhere to go for the day, and photograph any pre-existing damage that is not mould-related. Do not clean, paint over, or otherwise disturb the mould. Provide access to power, water and any locked spaces such as roof hatches and subfloor entry points. The IICRC, restoration standards emphasise preparation as part of a well-run remediation job because an unprepared site wastes containment setup time and increases cross-contamination risk.
The night before: contents and access
The scope document from your inspection should specify which rooms and areas are in scope. For each room in scope:
- Remove clothing, shoes, bedding and soft furnishings that you want to keep, as directed by the scope. Anything that stays in the room during works will be in the containment zone, exposed to the air movers and HEPA activity. Items of sentimental or financial value should come out.
- Move furniture away from affected walls or remove it from the room if the assessor recommended it. Access to all surfaces in the work zone is important for a complete HEPA vacuuming.
- Clear under-sink cabinets and built-in cupboard floors if those areas are in scope. Crews often need to access floor areas near the base of external walls.
- Ensure the roof hatch and subfloor access point are accessible and that you know where they are.
If you have questions about whether a specific item should be moved, the time to ask is during the quote conversation. See what to ask before signing a mould removal quote for the questions worth raising before you commit to a scope.
Pets, kids and vulnerable household members
Pets and children should not be in the building during remediation works, and ideally not in any part of the home while the crew is working, even in rooms that are not in scope. Our mould and pets guide explains that animals breathe at floor level where settled spore counts are often highest. Young children’s situations are covered in our mould and babies nurseries guide.
Practical arrangements:
- Book pet boarding or ask a neighbour to look after animals for the duration of each work day
- Arrange childcare, school or a family visit for children for the days works are running
- If a household member is elderly, immunocompromised or has a respiratory condition, arrange for them to be away from the property during works entirely
For short single-room jobs that run a few hours, the unaffected wing of a larger home may be adequate. Discuss this with the contractor at booking. They will advise based on the containment setup planned for your specific scope.
What to move and what to leave
This is where many homeowners get confused, so a simple table helps:
| Item type | Move it? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing and soft furnishings in scope rooms | Yes | Bag and store or launder |
| Furniture blocking wall access | Yes | As directed by scope |
| Furniture not blocking the work area | Usually leave | Crew will work around it |
| Valuable or fragile items in or adjacent to the work zone | Yes | Protect from accidental damage |
| Air conditioner remote controls, TVs, small electronics | Move | Risk of dust and vibration |
| Visible mould patches | Do not touch | Disturbing mould before containment spreads spores |
| Items under investigation (suspected damage) | Leave | Assessor needs to see pre-works condition |
The HEPA vacuuming and negative-air containment guide explains why the containment setup isolates the work zone from the rest of the home, which means items in rooms outside the zone are generally not at risk from the remediation process.
Power, water and roof access
Remediation crews use electrical equipment continuously: AFD machines, air movers, dehumidifiers, HEPA vacuums and lighting. Standard domestic power points are usually sufficient for single-room jobs. For multi-room or larger jobs, your contractor may ask about circuit capacity or bring extension leads.
Ensure the following before the crew arrives:
- A power board or accessible power points near the work area (GPOs within 10 metres of the primary work zone)
- Access to a water supply for the crew (tap access for cleaning equipment)
- The roof hatch is unobstructed and the attic is accessible if ceiling void work is in scope
- The subfloor entry hatch is unblocked and accessible if subfloor is in scope
- Adequate parking for the crew’s van or trailer, as close to the entry point as possible
For coastal Illawarra properties on narrow blocks, street parking arrangements may be worth confirming with the crew in advance, particularly in older Corrimal or Woonona terraced streets.
Documenting the pre-existing state
Before the crew arrives, spend ten minutes photographing any pre-existing damage in the areas being worked on that is unrelated to mould. Scuff marks on walls, carpet stains, cracked tiles, existing paint chips: anything you would not want attributed to the works if there is a post-works dispute.
This is not about distrust. It is good practice when any trade is working in your home. Photograph the work zone from multiple angles with a timestamp. Store the photos in a folder separate from your mould inspection report, so you have a clear before-and-after record.
The same photographs, combined with the inspection report and the completion document you receive at the end of works, form the documentation record for any insurance claim, property disclosure or future verification.
What to ask on arrival
When the crew arrives, a brief on-site conversation is useful. Questions worth asking:
- Can you walk me through the containment setup before you start?
- Where will the waste bags go after they leave the work zone?
- What do you need from me during the day?
- At what point will you call me if the scope needs to change?
- What will you leave me with at the end of the day?
A crew that welcomes these questions is a good sign. A crew that seems annoyed by them is worth noting.
After the job is done, your work shifts to maintaining the result. Our post-remediation cleaning routine guide covers the four-week routine that gives the remediation the best chance of holding through the Illawarra’s next humid season.
Our mould remediation service covers residential jobs across the Illawarra. Book a free quote.
FAQs
Should I clean the mould myself before the crew arrives to save time?
No. Disturbing visible mould without containment spreads spores to clean areas and can expand the contamination zone beyond what the inspection mapped. The crew establishes containment first, then begins working on the mould. Anything you do to the mould before they arrive makes their job harder and potentially more expensive.
Do I need to tell the crew about any asbestos in the building?
Yes. If you know or suspect that any building materials in or near the work zone contain asbestos, advise the contractor before the job starts. In pre-1985 Illawarra homes, suspect materials include fibro sheeting, ceiling tiles and some textured coatings. The contractor may need to adjust the scope or bring in a licensed asbestos assessor before proceeding.
Can the crew work while I am at work?
Yes, provided you have arranged access and completed the preparation steps. Most homeowners give a key or arrange a lockbox for trade access. Confirm this arrangement at booking and make sure the crew has a contact number for any scope questions that arise during the day.
What if I forget to move something before the crew arrives?
Tell the crew when they arrive. Most items can be moved quickly at the start of the job. The exception is anything in direct contact with mould: the crew will handle those items within containment rather than having them transported through the rest of the house.
How soon after works can we return to the treated area?
Your contractor will advise based on the specific scope. After the final HEPA vacuum and containment removal, most treated areas are ready for re-entry within a few hours. If fresh plasterboard or paint has been applied, allow drying time as directed. Structural drying phases, where air movers and dehumidifiers are running, may run for several days: the crew will confirm the timeline.
Related reading
- What to expect on a mould inspection day
- What a mould remediation day actually looks like
- HEPA vacuuming and negative-air containment explained
- What to ask before signing a mould removal quote
- Post-remediation cleaning routine for homeowners
- Mould and pets: dogs, cats and indoor air
- Mould and babies’ nurseries guide
- Mould remediation service