Using someone's inspection and radon testing question

Re: Using someone's inspection and radon testing question

• CowgirlK39 member

  

  April 2014

  I'm not sure what to say about the inspection thing. Is it a newer home? Is there anything that's missing from the old inspection (did they skip certain topics or is everything covered)? One thing I will say is that a friend was telling me about her house hunting and said she too had the home she purchased come up positive for radon. I think it would be the safe thing to do to have it tested.

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• SmrBrd2012 member

  

  April 2014

  Hm...How long ago was the first inspection? I would probably do another inspection and see if you can find someone that would also test for radon while they were there. They aren't all that expensive. Radon is a common issue but it is still an issue and it's still important to know the levels, especially if there are livable rooms in the basement. EPA recommends testing for radon even if you live as high as the 2nd floor.

  
  

  http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#overview
  

  

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• musictchr25 member

  

  April 2014

  Definitely get a radon test. In my area, New England, it only cost us $135 and it was well worth it. If the test comes back positive, the sellers are legally required to pay for the mitigation, and the cost cannot be put  back on you, even if the home is being sold "as-is."

  Amanda @ Rhody Life
  DIY & Home Decor Blog
  
  
  
  

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• SmrBrd2012 member

  

  April 2014

  musictchr25 said:

  If the test comes back positive, the sellers are legally required to pay for the mitigation, and the cost cannot be put  back on you, even if the home is being sold "as-is."

  Actually, I don't think there is any legality in who pays for radon, unless it's a state by state basis. I live in MA and I can't find anything stating that anywhere. It's negotiable. Sometimes buyers pay, sometimes sellers, sometimes it's split.
  

  

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• jtmh2012 mod

  

  April 2014

  I would get your own tests done.  Yes, it costs money, but you're buying an asset that gets very expensive if things go wrong.

  
  

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• ab6704a member

  

  April 2014

  I agree with prior poster's about getting the radon test.  My first house had very little, my latest house came back 4 times the EPA recommended level.  The sellers are not necessarily required by law to fix it, just disclose it if they are aware it's there. We negotiated a credit from our sellers to pay a portion of the cost of a radon air mitigation system.

  As far as the inspection report is concerned, just because the first inspector did a very detailed report does not mean he didn't miss something or that another inspector won't come to different conclusions about issues the house may have.  Having the second inspection report will give you more information about the house and you can never have too much information when it comes to buying a house.  Our home inspector did the radon air test also(for an additional fee of course)

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• blondii428 member

  

  April 2014

  Thanks for the input everyone!  The inspection was done just last week, the home is only 20 years old and it seemed to cover everything.  I like the tip of checking out reviews on the inspector just to be sure though.

  I don't think that the seller has to pay for the mitigation system to be put in, I think I will do an at-home test from Home Depot later on since if we have to put one in we will be paying ourselves anyways.

  

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• buttercup1958 member

  

  May 2014

  You really should. I know this is going to sound weird but check to see if there is any black shale near or on the property. Black shale is a rock that is a huge producer of radon. If you have a drafty house then it wouldn't be too bad because it wouldn't be concentrated as much. I wouldn't want to live in a house that could cause me health problems. 
  

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