Home inspection is important, whether you want to buy or sell a home. Where does radon testing fit into the picture?
Let's first consider the considerations from the point of view of the seller. If your inspector or other qualified person has already checked your home for radon, the buyer wants to make sure that the testing has been performed correctly. She may ask to double-check if certain conditions are not met.
Did the tests comply with the EPA radon checklist or your national protocol? Has testing been done in the last two years? Have you done any repairs on your home since the testing was completed? Does your potential buyer want to live in the basement or at a level lower than where the testing was conducted?
She may also ask for a new test if your state or local government requires disclosure of radon information to customers and that disclosure has not been made.
If you have not checked your home for radon, do it as soon as possible. Experience at the lowest level of a home that you can regularly attend. A test in an area such as a basement or a game room, if this area can be used by your customer.
If you are conducting a radon test yourself, carefully follow the test protocol for your area or the EPA radon test checklist. If you hire a contractor to inspect your home, you can protect yourself by hiring a qualified professional or company.
How to find a qualified specialist for testing? Ask your home inspector. In addition, your state should have an office that deals with radon issues. They can provide you with a list of testers in your area. Many states require radon professionals to be licensed, certified, or registered.
If your state does not regulate services related to radon, contact your home inspector or a reliable contractor if he has a license or certificate or certificate. Has he been trained in radon measurement and the right solution to problems related to radon? You can also contact the American Society of Home Inspectors, the National Association of Home Inspectors, or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
Let's look at the other side of the coin. What if you buy a house? The EPA says that if you are thinking of buying a home, you can accept an earlier test result from the seller. Or you can ask the seller for a new test that will be done by a qualified radon tester.
Before accepting the seller’s test results, ask a few questions. What did the previous tests show? Who tested? Where in the house was the previous testing? Was he at the level at which you plan to live? Were any changes made to the house after the check? For example, were there any changes in heating and cooling systems?
If you agree with the seller’s test results, make sure that the test complies with EPA checklists or relevant government protocols. If you think a new test is required, discuss it with the seller as soon as possible. If you decide to use a qualified radon tester for retesting, contact your state radon office for a copy of their approved list of people and companies experiencing radon.
If the seller does not have a tested home, ask them to do so as soon as possible. Consider incorporating radon verification into the contract. Pay attention to where the testing will be conducted in the house and who will conduct the testing. Also note the type of test that needs to be performed, and when it will be done. How will the seller and buyer share the test results? Who pays the cost of testing?
You want to be sure that radon testing is performed at the level you intend to occupy, be it the ground floor or the basement area. If you decide to finish or repair an unfinished plot after purchasing a house, you will need to pass a radon test before starting the project and again after completing the project. It is generally cheaper to install a radon reduction system before (or during) repair, rather than after it.
For more complete information on radon testing at the Environmental Protection Agency, go to http://www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html.
