The best way to protect your family — and any families that live in your home in the future — from the health risks associated with radon exposure is to test your Raleigh-Durham home for radon. Knowing your home's average indoor radon level will help you gauge your health risk and decide whether or not to reduce your exposure.
Radon testing during real estate transactions is increasing as Triangle residents become more aware of the risks of radon exposure. When you decide to sell your home, it is very likely that a potential buyer will test it for radon, in addition to conducting other standard inspections. If the radon levels are elevated, you (as the homeowner) will likely incur the expense of radon mitigation.
Radon Testing Tips for Homeowners
Studies have suggested that Americans spend as much as 90% of their time indoors, breathing air that can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Awareness is growing about the importance of indoor air quality, and many people in the Triangle and beyond are making easy "green" changes in their homes.
One of the most simple steps a homeowner can take to become more green is to test his or her home for radon gas. The EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that every home in the United States be tested for radon, regardless of location and foundation type. Radon testing takes just 48 hours and has little to no interference with the homeowner’s lifestyle.
Why not reap the benefits of radon mitigation while you're still living in the home? Reducing your exposure to radon reduces your risk of developing lung cancer. Even if you've lived in your home for many years, it's never too late to establish a healthy home for you and your family.
Radon Testing Tips for Home Buyers & Home Sellers
Recommendations to Buyers
As radon education and awareness increases, more and more home buyers are testing for radon before they purchase a home. Not only does testing give buyers more certainty about their radon-related health risks, it can limit their future liability as homeowners.
When purchasing a home, be sure to ask if the home has any radon-resistant construction features and/or if the home has been tested for radon. Keep in mind that is fairly easy and relatively inexpensive to test for radon and to reduce radon levels if necessary.
In a real estate transaction, the home buyers generally pay to have a radon test conducted in the house they're purchasing. Depending on the test results, buyers can either have the home mitigated or they can take no action and accept the health risks. When the average indoor radon level is 4.0 pCi/L (the EPA Action Level) or greater, the sellers will generally incur the cost of installing a radon mitigation system.
If the home has a radon mitigation system in place, ask for the most recent post-mitigation radon test results. If the home has not been tested recently, be sure to have a radon test conducted to confirm that the system is working properly.
If you are in the market, there is no reason not to buy a home with elevated levels of radon if it meets many or all of your other criteria. All radon problems can be fixed, and typical radon reduction systems cost much the same as other home repairs.
Recommendations to Sellers
As a seller, you may want to consider testing your home for radon before you put it on the market. If the results are high enough that they may pose a problem to a future buyer, you could go ahead and correct the issue. This way, there won't be any radon-related surprises during the due diligence period that could delay the closing or cause the buyer to walk away out of fear or uncertainty.
In fact, a properly-conducted, 3rd-party radon test could be used as a selling point for the home and ease the due diligence process. Whether the radon levels are low naturally or due to the active mitigation system, the buyer should feel more confident and comfortable about their potential radon exposure.
Limitations in a Real Estate Transaction
Although real estate professionals may have experience dealing with radon issues in other transactions, their licensing law prohibits them from providing technical advice regarding radon and its health risks. Unless they are qualified to provide such advice, they should recommend that their clients consult with a radon professional or local radon health authorities.
When a relocation company is involved, there may be restrictions in the real estate transaction. Seller and buyer options regarding radon detection and mitigation may be regulated by the relocation company's terms of agreement.
In new construction, many tract builders will not allow radon testing to be conducted before closing due to a fear that it may delay closing or cause the buyer to walk away from the contract. Instead, some builders provide a two to four-week window after closing during which the new homeowner may hire a radon professional to test the home. If the test returns results at or greater than 4.0 pCi/L, the builder may write a check to the homeowner to put toward the cost of radon remediation. Regardless of the actual cost, builders generally offer a set amount of money to release them of liability. This is not the case in all circumstances, so be sure to discuss the radon policy with your builder prior to signing a contract to purchase.
Why Choose Raleigh Radon for Home Radon Testing in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill & Beyond?
Raleigh Radon provides convenient, certified radon testing throughout the greater Triangle area. With many years of experience in the real estate industry, we understand how important it is to provide convenient, reliable and flexible services to our customers.
Flexible Scheduling
To cater to different preferences, we provide three different ways to schedule a radon test:
- Phone: 919-205-8180
- Email: Info@RaleighRadon.com
- Online: Schedule a Test
We'll confirm your request for a radon test within a few business hours, if not immediately. At that time we'll collect any additional information that we may need to arrange the test.
When scheduling, please keep in mind the timeframe (48-hour minimum testing period), and the "closed-house" requirements. Because everyone's timeline is different, we offer radon testing services 7 days a week. Although not ideal, we often conduct last-minute radon testing.
Immediate, Unbiased Results
With our continuous radon monitors, the results of your radon test are known immediately upon test completion. At the end of the 48-hour testing period, Raleigh Radon can notify you of the results immediately, and we'll send a complete, easy-to-read test report to you by email the same day.
We strictly use digital monitors, which automatically calculate the test results. We are not a laboratory, and we have no way of altering the test results in anyone's favor.
We're certified by the National Environmental Health Association's National Radon Proficiency Program (NEHA-NRPP), and we conduct all of our tests according to EPA protocols.
Flexible Payment Options
Raleigh Radon is happy to accept payment through any of the following ways:
- Payment in person at the start or completion of the test
- Payment online
To simplify the process we prefer that clients pay at the time of service.
Satisfaction Guarantee
At Raleigh Radon, we fully believe in the quality and reliability of our services, and we strive for 100% customer satisfaction. If there's ever an issue, we'll take immediate action to correct the problem. If we cannot satisfactorily resolve the issue, we'll provide a full refund of our service fee. We're always looking for feedback and suggestions as to how we can improve our services.
For radon testing for homeowners, buyers and sellers in Apex, Cary, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Creedmoor, Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest and Youngsville, contact Raleigh Radon.
