Many people do not understand what radon is, let alone what high levels of it can do to the value of their real estate. Any home, regardless of age or size, can have a radon issue. Radon is found in all areas of the United States. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it. If it becomes trapped inside a home, it affects everyone living inside.
What is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer, specifically lung cancer if the gas is breathed in for long periods of time. Itcomes from the natural breakdown of uranium in water, rocks, and soil and moves from the ground into many homes through cracks and holes in the foundation.
Radon Testing
The test should be conducted on the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy and must conform to standard radon testing methods. If you are thinking of selling your home, you should have the property tested for radon before placing the real estate on the market.
It is important to conduct radon testing prior to the time you list your home for sale. Having high levels in the home can greatly reduce the value of the property. If your home does have a radon problem, steps can be taken to reduce the amount of radon present in the home and prevent the radon from returning to prior levels.
By getting the radon levels in your home under control before the home is put up for sale, you will avoid having reduced property values due the presence of radon. A prospective buyer may ask for the results of the most recent radon test for the property if the government of the state of residence requires that the seller disclose that information.
How to Reduce Radon Levels
The cost of reducing the levels in the home will depend on a number of factors. Generally, the price of the adjustments and repairs will cost between $800 and $2,500.
There are a number of ways that the high radon levels found in a home can be reduced. The first and most basic approach is to seal any cracks and holes present in the foundation of the home. This will help reduce the amount of radon coming into the house.
Another method to reduce radon levels in the home is to install a sub-slab depressurization system beneath the home to prevent radon gas from entering the home. Homeowners may choose to hire a radon reduction contractor to ensure that the levels in the home are reduced properly and that all repairs conform to state regulation.
What Radon Testing Can Do For You
By ensuring that the radon levels in the home are at an acceptable level before placing the home on the market, the seller will ensure that they will not be surprised by hefty repair and mitigation costs prior to the closing.
Determining whether the radon levels in a home are at the proper levels is an important task that should be completed every time a change is made to the layout of the home. Decreasing the radon levels in the home is not only healthy for the lungs, it is healthy for the value of the property as well.
This article was provided by Benchmark Realty — a Boulder real estate company.