Radon Information Real Estate Professionals Can Relay to Clients

When purchasing or selling a home, real estate professionals are hit with endless questions…and when you're working with first time home buyers, you must prepare yourself for some major challenges. While it's great to be working with clients who are prepared, they might ask some questions that seem to come out of left field.

As radon attracts more and more public attention due to the 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year from radon poisoning, people are eager to become more informed about radon testing and radon mitigation. As a real estate professional, questions about radon gas are challenging, so we have put together a few facts to ease your anxiety when asked about radon.

If radon levels are bordering 4 pCi/L, you still need radon mitigation.

Although the U.S. EPA urges homeowners to have a radon mitigation system installed at 4 pCi/L, 3.9 is not safe. No radon level is actually safe, but you'll want to try to reduce your radon level to as low a level as possible.

If a home is currently vacant, you still need radon testing.

Even if a home is sealed and vacant, radon can still be problematic. Opening windows and doors isn't going to instantly drop radon levels. Every home, whether occupied or not, must receive radon testing every two years, per the U.S. EPA.

If a home is sold in the summer and has a low radon level, it may not be the same in the winter.

Radon levels are usually higher in the winter, when windows and doors are closed and heating systems are operating, so it's best to test the home again during colder months. For quick results during the real estate transaction, a short-term radon test is recommended but consider a long-term radon testing as a follow up to better reflect seasonal changes.

If you're purchasing a newly built home, the home should be tested.

Although more and more construction companies are getting on board with new construction radon resistance methods, you still should have a short-term radon test performed to ensure that the radon level is below 4.0 pCi/L.

If the home buyer wants to walk away after discovering elevated radon levels, explain that there is no reason to panic.

Hearing that the home your client adores has high levels of radon can be disheartening. Make sure to discuss with the client that a radon mitigation system can be installed to sufficiently reduce radon levels. Radon systems use efficient, quiet fans. Professionally installed systems operate continuously and lower radon concentrations throughout the entire home.

If the home buyer is not sure who will be paying for radon mitigation system installation, discuss with them a plan of action.

If high levels of radon are discovered during negotiations, the buyer can request that the seller pays for the radon mitigation system. Professionals typically can install an effective radon reduction system in less than one day.

Finding a qualified radon professional in your client's area is easy.

RadonAway's Find A Pro tool allows you or your clients to fill out a quick form and be connected to radon professional in the area who you can trust are experienced in the field, certified, and insured.