Health & Fitness
Radon, Asbestos and Lead ... Oh My!
After a buyer has an accepted offer there is a flurry of activity, starting with the home inspection. The purpose of the home inspection is to learn more about the home you are hoping to buy. You don't want expensive surprises to arise after you've moved into your new home.
It is important to keep in mind that most homes in New England were built a long time ago. And there are no perfect homes. In anticipation of a home inspection, I counsel my buyers to decide ahead of time what they consider significant, and what they are willing to accept as is. I suggest they decide on a dollar value they are comfortable with to address any issues that arise, and to ask for concessions for major things that are not reflected in a lower selling price.
Among the issues that most buyers are concerned about are Radon, Asbestos and Lead Paint. These three substances can be found in many homes and can be hazardous to people. But these issues can be addressed, making your home safe.
RADON
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless radioactive gas that is the natural breakdown product of uranium in the soil. It can accumulate in basements, creating a hazard to those in the home. While this sounds very dangerous, a radon mitigation system can easily pump the gas out from beneath your home into the atmosphere where it cannot harm you. Costs are moderate, usually less than $1500-$2000 to install. Most home inspectors can test for radon or you can do it yourself after you have purchased the home.ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a heat resistant mineral that was used in the past to provide insulation for pipes and heating systems. It was also used to make floor tiles and outdoor shingles. As we have learned, breathing asbestos particles can cause lung cancer. There are several ways of addressing asbestos in a home. If the house has exterior asbestos shingles or floor tiles that are intact, there is very little danger to the occupants. The problem arises when the asbestos is broken and flaky and particles become airborne. If the problem is asbestos-wrapped pipes, one solution is to encase them in plastic, eliminating the problem of airborne particles. However, if a furnace is completely encased in asbestos (we call these furnaces "snowmen") it means the system is very old and should be replaced.However, it is inadvisable to remove asbestos yourself. The EPA has strict standards for those whose occupation is to abate asbestos. If you find asbestos in a home you wish to purchase, your best course of action is to ask a company who abates this hazard to look at the home and give you suggestions of the best way to solve the problem.
LEAD PAINT
In 1978 the use of lead paint in homes was outlawed because of the deleterious effects of lead paint poisoning, particularly in young children where it can cause mental retardation and even death. Most of the homes in New England were built before then and many are concerned about this risk, which occurs when lead paint is ingested or inhaled.With every sale (and rental), the State of Massachusetts required a Lead Paint Disclosure form where the owner (or landlord) discloses what they know about the occurrence of lead paint in the property. In my experience, for sales, the vast majority of these forms indicate the owner has no knowledge of whether or not there is a lead paint hazard. Therefore, the onus of determining the lead paint status falls on the buyer. There is much information available on the internet from the EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services. However, several years ago I interviewed a gentleman, Ron Albert, who is a lead paint inspector. He had a lot of great information about the subject. You can see the video here:
http://www.fredandannette.com/Movie_22.html
Finally, don't let the issues of radon, asbestos and lead paint derail your decision to purchase the home of your dreams. These are issues that can be dealt with and your home made safe for you and your family.
