Mold in your inspection report: serious or cosmetic?
"Suspected microbial growth" on a report is common. The mold is rarely the real issue — the moisture behind it is.
Find the cause, not just the stain
Surface mold on a bathroom ceiling is a ventilation fix. Mold in a basement, attic, or behind drywall points to a water problem — grading, a leak, condensation — that you must solve or it returns. Inspectors usually can't test it; they flag and defer.
The numbers
Cosmetic cleanup is cheap. Real remediation runs $1,500–$6,000, plus whatever fixes the moisture source (regrading, a new sump, roof/flashing repair).
What to do
Ask for the moisture source to be identified and corrected, not just the visible mold wiped. Budget for the underlying repair, and re-inspect the area before closing if it's significant.