{"id":1308,"date":"2016-07-13T10:30:35","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T15:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radonresources.com\/blog\/?p=1308"},"modified":"2016-08-09T15:45:10","modified_gmt":"2016-08-09T20:45:10","slug":"whats-the-deal-with-radon-and-real-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radonresources.com\/blog\/whats-the-deal-with-radon-and-real-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"Part One: What’s the Deal with Radon and Real Estate?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What can you do about the deadly gas, radon\u00a0if you are dealing with real estate?\u00a0It’s a question that will plague home buyers and sellers alike.\u00a0And thanks to the recent surge in the housing market, it’s even more relevant.<\/p>\n

Many brush off the idea of a deadly, invisible and odorless gas. After all, it\u2019s virtually undetectable so surely it doesn\u2019t exist, right?<\/p>\n

Wrong.<\/p>\n

You see, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers<\/a> and the second-leading cause for everyone. It is responsible for claiming the lives of more than 21,000 Americans each year. That\u2019s just in the US, other countries such as Canada, and the United Kingdom are also affected by this natural gas.<\/p>\n

Even scarier, it\u2019s possible to contract radon-induced lung cancer even if you\u2019ve never smoked a day in your life.<\/p>\n

What is it exactly? It\u2019s a naturally occurring radioactive gas<\/a> that seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation and walls. Once inside, it collects in greater amounts effectively turning the indoor air toxic.<\/p>\n

To combat radon, one need only install a mitigation system that ventilates the indoor space. It removes the radon gas from inside the home, and expels it into the open air outside where it can safely disperse.<\/p>\n

A common misconception is that you won’t be able to sell a home plagued by radon, or\u00a0you can’t\u00a0market a home that has a radon mitigation system installed. There\u2019s another that claims removing radon from a home is\u00a0a costly fix and you should walk away \u2013 it\u2019s really not.<\/p>\n

We scoured the web for\u00a0common real estate questions about\u00a0radon. In the interest of public health and safety, we will answer some of them.<\/p>\n

Is the Seller Responsible for Dealing with Radon, Mold or Asbestos During a Home Sale?<\/h2>\n

This question is a tough one to answer, because it depends on the terms of the sale and the selling party. For example, sale\u00a0terms are going to be different when buying from a private seller versus a bank.<\/p>\n

\"Modern<\/a>

*Image by Nicci Romanovsky<\/p><\/div>\n

As for who’s legally responsible, it depends on the state where\u00a0you are\u00a0conducting the sale.<\/p>\n

These problems should ABSOLUTELY<\/strong> be solved before<\/strong> anyone moves into – and begins living in – the home. As for who should pay for the work, that’s something you’ll need to work out during negotiations.<\/p>\n

If you’re the buyer\u00a0you can request that the seller\u00a0cover the costs out of pocket, or\u00a0vice versa.<\/p>\n

While we can’t speak on\u00a0the cost of removing mold or asbestos\u00a0– because it\u00a0depends how much is found – we can talk\u00a0about\u00a0the cost of radon mitigation<\/a>. The price of installing a system is not as much as you’d expect. It can range from $1000 to $5000 in rare cases, but it’s almost always on the lower side of that range.<\/p>\n

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers<\/strong>, so $1-5K is\u00a0a small price to pay to make your new home safe.<\/p>\n

Will\u00a0Home Buyers Be Deterred By a Radon Mitigation System?<\/h2>\n

It’s possible that some uneducated buyers may be nervous about\u00a0a mitigation system, but they shouldn’t be.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Image by SWAT Environmental<\/p><\/div>\n

Turning a home down because it has a radon mitigation system is like\u00a0avoiding a home that had a new roof installed. Provided the work was completed by a professional, it seems silly to walk away.<\/p>\n

Radon levels inside a home with a mitigation system are lower than the average level of homes without. In other words, the air quality in the home is much safer.<\/p>\n

Plus, maintenance of a\u00a0mitigation system is minimal at best and they often have a warranty.<\/p>\n

Be sure to educate potential home buyers and there should be no issues. If it helps, explain the dangers of radon and why it’s good\u00a0to have a home with\u00a0a mitigation system in place. If they were to find elevated levels in another home they’d have to install a system anyway.<\/p>\n

Only Old Houses are at Risk for Radon, Right?<\/h2>\n

Wrong.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

*Image by Lisa (Flickr)<\/p><\/div>\n

Older houses – especially those with a basement – are susceptible to radon, but they are not the only type of home\u00a0at risk. New homes, apartments, condos, and even trailers can have high levels too.<\/p>\n

Modern homes are built using radon-resistant materials and methods, but they can still be affected<\/strong>. This is why it is important that you have your home tested for radon gas, no matter where you live.<\/p>\n

If you don’t want to hire a professional, you can always pick up a DIY test at your local hardware store or online. Just make sure you follow the directions closely so you don’t get false readings!<\/p>\n

When Buying\/Selling a Home, is Radon Testing Really Necessary?<\/h2>\n

In most states,\u00a0a radon disclosure is required<\/a>\u00a0by law during the sale of a home.<\/p>\n

\"radon<\/a>Information required\u00a0in the disclosure\u00a0varies state by state, but usually it warns homeowners about the dangers of radon. It may also include any previous\u00a0testing results\u00a0or\u00a0info\u00a0about a mitigation system where applicable.<\/p>\n

As for radon testing, it’s not required by law in an overwhelming majority of US states.<\/p>\n

The US Environmental Protection Agency DOES\u00a0<\/strong>recommend\u00a0everyone test their home for radon<\/a>,\u00a0including those\u00a0being bought or\u00a0sold.<\/p>\n

Radon testing is not expensive at all, and you can do it yourself pretty easily. So it all comes down to this question: Would you rather be safe than sorry? A home with elevated radon gas levels within is a toxic and unhealthy environment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If your answer is yes, you’d rather be safe, then have your home tested.<\/p>\n

If you’re a seller, consider how you would feel moving into a new home that turns out to be dangerous. It’s not a positive experience at all, so you should also consider testing your home before listing it on the market.<\/p>\n

Should I Walk Away from a Purchase if Elevated Radon Levels are Discovered?<\/h2>\n

It can be a scary prospect knowing that you’re about to buy a home that may not even be safe to live in. But there’s no reason to panic or back out of a deal, at least not immediately.<\/p>\n

If radon is\u00a0discovered while\u00a0negotiations are still ongoing, you can make a request to\u00a0the seller to have a mitigation system installed. If you’re negotiating with a bank – or seller who is unwilling to compromise\u00a0– it will fall to\u00a0you\u00a0to have a mitigation system put in.<\/p>\n

\"Radon<\/a>In either case, don’t be afraid to research some local professionals and ask their opinion. Many radon contractors will provide a free on-site cost estimate after viewing the home in question.<\/p>\n

Don’t let the discovery of elevated radon sour your deal,\u00a0provided you have ample funds.<\/p>\n

Again, you will want to fix the problem\u00a0before<\/strong>\u00a0you move into the home and begin living there. Just keep that in mind.<\/p>\n

As a seller, this can be a frustrating experience especially when you just want to move on with your life. But consider the facts. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and it claims the lives of more than 21,000 each year.<\/p>\n

Even if you think\u00a0it’s a bunch of nonsense, do you really want to be responsible for harming a family?\u00a0Any decent human being wouldn’t. That\u00a0is why you should work out some a\u00a0solution with the buyer in the event that elevated radon is discovered.<\/p>\n

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Click here to read Part 2:\u00a0What\u2019s the Deal with Radon, Real Estate, and Lung Cancer…<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

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More Information About Radon and Real Estate<\/h3>\n

If you’d like to read more about the impact of radon gas on real estate transactions, look to these other sources:<\/p>\n