Should I Test for Radon in Washington, DC?
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The purpose of this blog post is to explore what Radon is and if it's something thing you need to consider testing for when buying a home in Washington, DC. Radon is not well known, which is shocking since it's believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer. In short, it's a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is emitted from the earth. The scariest thing about Radon is that you cannot see, smell or taste it, so there is no way to know if your home has Radon without having an official test performed. A typical Radon test costs the buyer about $160.
How does Radon get into your home? It's generally found in a basement and seeps through cracks in the walls and floors. To test for Radon, a licensed inspector will leave an electrically-charged device that collects air samples in your home for 48 hours or more. Ideally, your home should have a reading at or below 4 pCi/L.
As for how this impacts the purchase of the property, this is how the current sales addendum reads (as of 9/26/2016):
The important items to note are:
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Number of Days for the Contingency - This is the number of days you are allowed to get an inspector in a home to collect samples and deliver the results. Keep in mind that it takes at least two days to test, so make sure to take that into account when scheduling your Radon test; and
- Negotiation - If Radon is found there are two things that a buyer can do. The first is to request that the seller remediates the situation. This typically costs around $1,000, but can vary depending on a number of factors. The second option is to void the contract;
What's the likelihood of Your Home Having Radon:
Click Here to Download the EPAs Pamphlet About Radon
If you are interested in buying a home in Washington, DC and need help then please feel free to call John Coleman at (202) 427-9689.
Thank you so much for reading my post about whether of not you should test for Radon in Washington, DC.
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