You've heard about waterproofing a basement. Maybe someone you know has even suggested you do it. But the question still lingers in your mind. "Why?"

The answer is one simple, disgusting word- mold. Not waterproofing a basement in Indiana will undoubtedly lead to water penetration. And a wet basement provides a prime breeding ground for mold. Below are a few reasons why mold should appear on the top of every homeowners "most feared" list.

• Sickness- Okay, it's true that the media has overhyped the health risks of mold. In reality, only a small fraction of molds contain toxins that cause life-threatening illnesses. But what if the mold that results from the failure to waterproof your basement leads to sickness in your family? The chances might be small, but the possibility does exist.

While mold in your wet basement may not necessarily pose a serious health risk, it will definitely aggravate allergies. Exposure to mold can cause everything from itchy eyes to frequent headaches. And if anyone in your family suffers from asthma, count on the suffering to increase if you allow mold in your basement.

• Difficulty of Removal- A quick search on the internet offers do-it-yourself solutions for mold removal. Some sources may try to sell you a chemical. Others tell you to mix one part water with one part bleach and spray it on the mold. The water allows the solution to penetrate the mold and the bleach to kill it from within. These solutions may work for small mold problems.

However, not waterproofing a basement can result in much more than a small problem. The likelihood of you noticing mold growth immediately is not very good. More often, homeowners notice mold growth long after it reaches the out of control point. Once mold spores enter the air in a moist climate, killing them is nearly impossible. Even if you spray the mold with all the bleach in the world, failure to kill even a barely visible patch will allow the mold to stay alive and continue to spread.

• Cost of Removal- Once mold has taken over your basement, mold remediation contractors will offer your only hope. And let's face it- they aren't cheap. You might find a guy who performs mold remediation cheaply on the side, but do you really want to trust that guy with your investment? Realistically, you will need to pay big bucks for a trustworthy name that performs good work. And as your wallet thins out, you'll wish you had thought more about waterproofing the basement.

• Home Devaluation- Once you've hired someone to remove your mold, the government mandates that you inform any potential home buyers of the past problem. If you've taken the necessary measures to clean up the mold, your home may still keep its value. However, nothing makes buyers run like the word, "mold." You will face difficulty selling your home the minute it has that label slapped on it.

If you fail to properly remove the mold in your wet basement, you might as well not even attempt to sell your home. If anyone even thinks about buying it, they will demand a significant discount.

In short, allowing mold to grow in your home might be the biggest mistake you ever make. Failing to control moisture levels in your basement will create the perfect habitat for spreading mold spores. Luckily, you can easily prevent mold in your home by waterproofing the basement.