Call For A Free Quote: 1-800-299-3578 (toll free), Home >> Blog >> Does Your State Require Radon Testing. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are forgeneral informational purposesonly. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test: For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test. All radon test devices must be approved by either the NRSB or NRPP (see below). Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas created from breakdown of natural deposits of uranium in the soil. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. But it can also help you in avoiding penalties, especially from those states that require radon testing. report a claim The house is closed for 12 hours, then the testing device is activated or opened and left in place for 48 hours or more. Check HomeLights guide to real estate disclosure laws nationwide to learn more about what your state requires. This includes places like the state courthouse, libraries, and similar public properties. Maybe you are buying a home and have finally put in an offer on the one you have been dreaming about. Those fixes will add to the cost, even if you do the sealing yourself, but they will likely result in lower radon gas levels. For children, radon and second-hand smoke are the biggest risks for developing lung cancer later in life. Be sure to follow the kit's directions closely, as any deviation could result in inaccurate readings. Radon mitigation systems can take from three to five hours to install, and you can expect to see lower radon levels within 24 hours after installation. You are able to choose to work with the best licensed and certified team for your system installation and have a majority of the cost, if not all, covered by the home seller. Radon is an unavoidable element. If the test results are near 4pCi/L level, the buyer may ask for a discount or require you to install a radon mitigation system before closing. or Doing so can help you understand what to do before buying or relocating to the house. As of October 1, 2016, county law requires that "a single-family home located in the county must be tested for radon before completing a sale of the home.". Long-term tests stay in place for more than 90 days. Radon levels in a home, under typical operating conditions, will commonly reach a steady state with mild fluctuations about 12 hours after the house is closed up. If the radon gas test results still show high concentrations, even after the fixes, its best to be proactive and install a radon gas mitigation system before listing your home. HomeGo may utilize the services of an affiliated real estate brokerage to transact home purchases. This method uses suction points that are drilled in the subslab (usually four to six inch holes that look like hollow pits). Buying a Home (The New Radon Testing Law) As of October 1, 2016, County law requires that "a single-family home located in the County must be tested for radon before completing a sale of the home." This requirement is contained in Chapter 40 of the County Code, as amended by County Bill 31-15. Prices, coverages and privacy policies vary among these insurers, who may share information about you with us. There are also third-party certification programs like the NEHA that work directly with state governments to license and qualify professionals. Furthermore, the gas can then seep into your home through cracks in the foundation or pipes. Many times post mitigation tests are in the range of 1-3. It is recommended that the homes heating and cooling system be operated normally for the season. Learn about our teams, apply for a job, and more, Learn about our goals and how we achieve them, Discover how we live our core values within our communities, See what were up to, as well as what weve accomplished, Take a tour of our art installations, collection highlights, and more. The map is interactive allowing you to zoom in or out, and to reposition so you can focus on your area of interest. Depending on the test device used, a professional radon test will usually cost between $100-200. In some cases, yes. In sum, we have seen time and time again how this type of allowance protects the interests of all parties and keeps the transactions moving forward toward closing. A single-family home includes detached single family homes and townhomes, except those units that are part of a condominium regime or a cooperative . Additionally, radon is responsible for the deaths of more than 21,000 Americans every year. Yes. Also, there are laws that require home sellers and realtors to disclose any known radon information about a property. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Testing Process. Radon testing is still necessary in buying and selling real estate By Hank Lerner, Esq. Is Radon testing required to sell a home? Thirteen states require testing in schools. You can find information on radon, the protocols for radon testing during real estate transactions, and guidance as to how to interpret your radon test results. Join our growing team to help us create safe and sustainable indoor environments across the United States. If bundled into the cost of a standard home inspection, expect to pay $90 to $250 on top of the home inspection fee. Home >> Blog >> Are There State Radon Laws That Require Radon Testing and Mitigation? If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure. Radon gas test results are given in picocuries and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) strongly recommends installing a radon mitigation system if the results show a radon gas concentration of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Elevated levels of radon gas are known to be harmful and is a leading cause of lung cancer in the USA. These include California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Step 2. Many people who are relocating to Florida are concerned about radon in the home they are purchasing. Source: NCSL (National Conference of State Legislators) Radon Overview. Energy Bureau staff manage the radon information toll-free hotline (1-800-546-0483) and distribute free radon test kits to Montana residents. These states are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. As levels can fluctuate, its important to measure levels over time. If your homes radon tests have shown 4 pCi/L or more, you have a couple of options during the sale process. The Illinois Radon Awareness Act, 420 ILCS 46/1 et seq., requires you to give two pamphlets about radon hazards to the buyer before the contract is signed. The most common procedure for radon testing during real estate transactions is for the potential buyer to request the radon test as part of the overall home inspection. You cant see, smell, or hear radon, so the only way to know if its present in your home is by testing. In contrast, retrofitting an existing home can cost between $800 and $2,500. Most of the state radon laws are necessary, but still lacking. Youd think since Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US,there would be a lot of legislation surrounding the issue. If those results show high levels of radon, you can be sure the buyer will ask for a substantial discount. Further, the EPA recommends that all homes be tested as part of thehome inspection process. To order a home radon test kit, print out the order form at the University of Georgia Radon Education website. Contact us for answers. In this post, we try to answer at least one of your questions who pays for radon mitigation home buyers or home sellers? Short-term tests are useful to see if further testing is warranted. A little prep goes a long way. People dont have the money to do it up front., Whatever you choose, remember that having radon in your home doesnt mean that it wont sell. Radon breaks down into tiny radioactive particles in the air. Some state laws, such as the Illinois Radon Awareness Act and the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act, specify not only consumer awareness but licensing for radon testing and mitigation professionals. Radon certification laws address the businesses and professionals that will be dealing with radongas in homes. This includes companies that provide testing and mitigation services. Contact your state's radon program for information about DIY home radon testing kits and where to obtain them. However, an appraiser will look at whether a homeowner or an ASHI-certified home inspector has reported any radon and then check for other similarly affected housing thats soldnot an easy task, Ford said. When searching for a mitigation company, whether through referrals from your real estate agent or online directories of home improvement professionals, look for licensing through your states environmental health department, or those advertising accreditation through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP). EPA recommends contacting a licensed professional to install a radon reduction system if your radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air. While it can happen anywhere, there are some regions in the United States that are more prone to it. This mitigation vent discharges radon directly at face level. You can't see or smell radon. When deciding how to test a home for radon, you have two options such as hiring a qualified radon tester or using a DIY radon testing kit. In conclusion, if you, the seller, provide an allowance for the mitigation, you rid yourself of the responsibility of installing an effective system on behalf of the buyer. Yet, to have the property tested a tenant or landlord must request it. Youll receive a firm offer on the spot and can close in as little as 7 days. That way, you know what other buyers are going to be looking for, and you will give the buyer peace of mind. This can be tedious and can cause delays in the closing transaction. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and . If results indicate 4 pCi/L or more, youll need to take invest in radon mitigation services to solve the problem. This may seem counterintuitive to why these laws exist and it is but unfortunately, theres nothing that requires a lot of these properties to mitigate the issue. They have regulations that govern radon disclosure, radon certification, and radon mitigation. Homeowners should consider correcting a radon problem before making final preparations to sell a home. The EPA recommends mitigation at 4.0 pCi/L or more. A buyer may want to have a confirmatory test conducted. Whichever side of the real estate transaction you are on, your hopes are high for everything to go smoothly through the final closing. The process generally involves placing a measuring device in the basement or lowest level of your home, three feet off the floor. All homes are purchased in the name of an affiliated holding company designed to acquire properties and may not vest in the name of HomeGo. Twelve states require a public education program or radon awareness program. HomeGo purchases houses in as-is condition, including those with potential health issues, so you wont have to worry about elevated radon levels. Liability of installing the cheapest system before closing may not protect the buyers long-term if a faulty system is installed. Be a part of something amazing! The simplest way to reduce radon in a home is to install a mitigation system. In this case, the results should be shared with you. First, the basics: Where does radon come from? 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