Home buyers and sellers are frequently being met with the issue of Radon. Elevated awareness, and state requirements bring Radon issues to the forefront in transactions involving real estate. An increased number of states now require disclosure of Radon levels to home buyers by the home seller. Below you'll find information compiled from the EPA's "Home Buyers and Seller's Guide to Radon".

Back Home

Test your home before putting it on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix any problems. This could be a positive selling point! 

• If your home has already been tested for radon provide your test results to the buyer. No matter what kind of test you took, a potential buyer may ask for a new test especially if:
1. you have renovated or altered your home since you tested;
2. the buyer plans to live in a lower level of the house than you do, such as a basement which is suitable for occupancy but is not currently lived in; or
3. your state requires disclosure of radon information to buyers.
• If the home has not yet been tested for radon . . . .

Have a test taken as soon as possible. If you can, test your home before putting it on the market because this may save time during real estate transactions. You should test in the lowest level of the home which is suitable for occupancy and finished. This means testing in the lowest level that you currently live in or a lower level not currently used, but which a buyer could use for living space without renovations. The result of the radon test is important information about your home's radon level that potential buyers may want to know.

• Ask the seller for radon test results.
• If no test has been conducted:

Make sure that a radon test is done as soon as possible. You should consider including provisions in the contract specifying who should conduct the test, what type of test to do, when to do the test, and how the seller and the buyer will share the test results, test costs and, if necessary, when radon reduction measures should be taken and who should pay for them. Make sure that the test is done in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy. This means the lowest level that you are going to use as living space which is finished or does not require renovations prior to use.

If you decide to finish or renovate an unfinished area of the home in the future, radon tests should be taken before and after the area is finished. Radon reduction costs could be incurred if high levels are found in that area. Generally, it is less expensive to install a radon reduction system before or during renovations rather than afterwards.

• If the home has been tested be sure to find out:
1. results of the previous test.
2. who conducted the previous test: the homeowner, a radon professional or some other person.
3. where in the home the previous test was taken, especially if you may plan to live in a lower level of the home. For example, the test may have been taken on the first floor; however, you may want to live in a basement which is not currently lived in but which is suitable for occupancy without renovation.
4. what, if any, structural changes or alterations have been made to the house since the test was done. Such changes might affect radon levels.
• Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different indoor radon levels. While radon problems may be more common in some areas in the local community or state, any home may have a problem. Testing your home is the only way to find out what your radon levels are.

Builders can incorporate radon-resistant features into the homes they build. Some states, counties and local jurisdictions may adopt radon-resistant construction features in their building codes, which builders must then follow. Radon-resistant construction standards can be applied depending on the radon potential in a particular area. Many builders already use radon resistant building features.

New home buyers should ask if radon-resistant construction techniques have been built into the new home they are considering for purchase. Buyers should also ask whether information about radon is available. For custom-built homes, the buyer should discuss radon- resistant features with the builder, including the cost.

How RADON Gets Into Your Home

How to Test for RADON

After Testing: What to do if Your Home has High Levels of RADON

Links to Learn More

 

Isn't it worth your family's health?

Radon Test Kits - as low as $7.33 (includes lab fees)

(EPA recommends side-by-side testing)  

A Small Price to pay for your family's health.

The contents of these WebPages are copyright protected

©  All rights reserved NATIONAL SAFETY PRODUCTS, Inc.

Back Home