Toadstools in the yard -- normal? and how about musty basements? (Denver: houses, crawl space)

[Big_Sky]

We're looking at a house that needs a fair amount of work but the neighborhood is great. The backyard slopes downhill away from the house, so I don't think it's a drainage issue, but there's a giant patch of toadstools. Normal or not normal for the Denver area? (I'm from CA and AZ, never seen this kind of thing) If normal, how do you control them? Are they poisonous to dogs?

While we're at it. Musty basement smells. Is this necessarily bad news? There is no visible water damage or staining and the house appears to be very well kept.

I think everyone was a midget in 1961 when this house was built. Never seen such narrow doorways or small bathrooms. No joke, I have seen roomier bathrooms in some airplanes than the master bath. Very odd.

[mic111]

We have toadstools in our yard. No idea why or how they got there. Seems to be at least 3 or 4 types. We have dogs also. Once saw some toadstool remains in dog vomit. Didn't poison the dog. I tend to pull them up with the dog poop clean up tool which has a bag attached so they get thrown out. The do come back though. We've had them for a few years so I kind of just ignore them. Apparently they are pretty common in Denver. Read this link. It says you can't really get rid of them and they are normal.
http://www.arborscapeservices.com/wh...ools-in-lawns/

Musty smell is bad. Look harder for a water leak somewhere. Could be a simple fix like a leaky pipe. When ever I've smelled water in my basement I keep looking till I find it. So far it has been minor, like a leaky pipe or a window that needs caulked. Were so dry that there has never been any mold and since I check the basement regularly I think I find stuff really fast. In a '61 house check for crawl spaces to see if there is water there. Also find out if the neighbor houses have sump pumps. You may need one. I used to live on a hill and wasn't at the bottom of it but the previous owner had installed a sump pump. Turns out there was high ground water. It went off all the time but there was no water in the basement or musty smell.

[Mike from back east]

RUN.

Musty means wet. Toadstools means wet.

Small rooms?

RUN.

[Big_Sky]

Thanks. I think I can make peace with the toadstools. Like I said, it's not swampy or boggy.

The basement though....if you don't already own the house, how would an inspector be able to poke around enough to locate any potential source of moisture? It has carpet padding and carpet, drywall and a drop ceiling. In other words, not easy to look under the hood.

[mic111]

You could try a specialist. There is a leak there somewhere and you shouldn't put in an offer until it is located and fixed.

Basement Waterproofing, Crawl Space Repair and Foundation Repair in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, CO | Foundation Repair in Colorado Springs, Colorado

[sbelvedere]

Originally Posted by Big_Sky

Thanks. I think I can make peace with the toadstools. Like I said, it's not swampy or boggy.

The basement though....if you don't already own the house, how would an inspector be able to poke around enough to locate any potential source of moisture? It has carpet padding and carpet, drywall and a drop ceiling. In other words, not easy to look under the hood.

Eek, finished basement makes it all the worse. Any indication from the finish how long ago the carpet and drywall were replaced in the basement? I've heard horror stories of owners refinishing the basement to get it sold, removing carpet and/or drywall that might indicate where the problem is coming from or its magnitude.

[davebarnes]

1. If a tree was removed some stump remained, then you will get mushrooms.
2. If the lawn was fertilized with natural materials containing spores and growth media, then mushrooms.
3. If the lizard people, rulers of this planet, targeted your yard, then mushrooms.
Not to worry.

Worry about the musty smell in the basement.

[blackmet]

Sounds like you really don't even like the house, and it's got some moisture problems. Look for something else.

[Big_Sky]

Originally Posted by blackmet

Sounds like you really don't even like the house, and it's got some moisture problems. Look for something else.

I don't love the house, but I love the street, the neighborhood, proximity to things I like. The house has potential, and I would someday love it, just as I have my previous ugly duckling homes. I enjoy the transformation process. Not that I really need to explain this to the internet

[blackmet]

Originally Posted by Big_Sky

I don't love the house, but I love the street, the neighborhood, proximity to things I like. The house has potential, and I would someday love it, just as I have my previous ugly duckling homes. I enjoy the transformation process. Not that I really need to explain this to the internet

OK, then that makes sense. If you see potential in it and think you might like to transform it, then that's different. I just didn't get the sense that you even thought there was much potential there.