Home inspections and radon testing

During the course of the real eastae transaction, you could have both a Full Service home Inspection and a Radon Measurement taken. You would be covering both bases at the same time.  The advantage of hiring a licensed radon measurement professional is that you have a certified measurement with a proper custody chain. The professional will follow the correct protocals for measurement and ensure the result to be accurate.

Where does radon come from?

Most radon enter homes due to air pressure differences between inside air and outside air. When air is vented from a building by natural or powered ventilation, radon and other soil gases are drawn in from surrounding soil through opening between the house and soil. The potential hazard of high levels of radon gas exist in new homes, old homes, two story homes. All homes located anywhere in the state should be tested for radon.

Radon and your home. TEST

Test your home today for radon. Radon an indoor pollutant, is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas.  Radon comes from naturally occuring uranium in the soil. The only way to tell how much radon you have in your home is to test. In Illinois to have someone test radon for you they need to be licensed. This is a good idea because there is specific protocal that needs to be followed in order not to maintain integrity of the test.

How much does a home inspection cost? How long will it take?

The time to properly inspect a home as well as the fee charged, varies according to size, age, type of foundation, and several other factors. However you can expect to spend two or three hours for an average three bedroom home. During the course of your home inspector, the inspector should look from top to bottom, side to side, front to back and inside out. I encourage you to attend the inspection, and if you have any questions or concerns we can discuss them as we move through the inspection.  I will also review the written report with you, if you would like, and we can further discuss the details of your home inspection.

Buyer Education

The primary purpose of an inspection is to educate the buyer, to help make an informed decision.  I always encourage the buyer to attend the inspection.  There are certain aspects of the house that just won't be included in the written report, that will be valuable information to the home owner. The buyers attendance will provide them with an overall idea of possible future repairs and maintenance of a structure.  This is valuable information, which could increase the life span, and perhaps the future selling price of a home.

Pre-listing home inspections

BUYERS MARKET

When the housing market becomes a "buyers market", it is time for sellers to become pro-active.   That is why I recommend for sellers to have a pre-listing inspection for their home they are placing on the market. 

Instead of being reactive to what potential buyers "find" when they have a home inspection, a seller that has had a pre-listing inspection, they have already had an opportunity to address any and all notations of the inspection.   An informed seller is in fact a strong seller.  A pre-inspection, allows a seller to be aware of issues long before they become a "negotiation".

Steve