So the house you're listing or have interested buyers for, has elevated radon in air & water concentrations...now what? The following informative tidbits are applicable to Realtors dealing with radon:
First off...DON'T PANIC! Any radon problem is fixable!
Testing: Whether you're the buying or selling agent, it behooves all parties involved that the person contracted for testing have a NEHA or NRSB certification for radon testing. This will ensure that the individual has invested some time in learning proper deployment & collection procedures. False positives can mean a quick death to any transaction, given the right mix of emotions & misinformation. So if the initial tests were conducted by an unqualified person...first things first; have the proper people do a confirmatory test. Remember that a certification does not guarantee true professionalism...but it is a start in the right direction.
Qualified Contractors: Upon confirmation that there is in fact a problem, contact a "qualified" professional. This doesn't mean surfing the web looking for the biggest coupon special discount of the month...it does mean contacting NEHA or NRSB certified contractors who will take the time to visit the home, survey the conditions, & develop a house specific mitigation strategy. Having done work in the neighborhood does not - a template make.
Contract Wording: Pay close attention to proposal or contract wording. Does it specifically state a guaranteed reduction? Or are there lofty "predictions / goals" or references to "typical results"? I've seen some craftily worded proposals that had homeowners & experienced realtors alike, convinced they were guaranteed a reduction below 1 pCi/l - only to later discover that after a careful review of the wording; they in fact had no guarantee at all. Worst yet; they would have to pay for every additional effort put forth by the contractor with no cap on expense. This is actually standard procedure for a NEHA Certified Contractor operating in CT, & in other States, so use every means of cross checking at your disposal such as the BBB etc. Certified doesn't necessarily mean scrupulous!
Timeframe: Don't wait till the very last second to have the problem addressed. It's a harsh reality of the radon mitigation business that more than one trip is sometimes necessary to get a successful reduction in radon levels. This applies more to airborne problems vs. water. In waterborne radon mitigation, once water passes through the treatment system...it's fixed. But not allowing a time cushion for work to be performed & retested can lead to postponed closing dates.
Choices: You should know that there are often options as to where systems can be installed, pipes routed, fans located & so on. Ask the contractor if more than one option exists. This can be important info to keep in your back pocket in the event a nervous buyer wants to walk because they're not happy with the proposed aesthetic impact the proposed system install will have. If option "B" will be acceptable to the buyer...perhaps negotiate that Mr. & Mrs. Seller pay for the "basic" option...but Mr. & Mrs. Buyer can have option "B" installed if they kick in the difference.
Like most things in life...you get what you pay for. A little planning can go a long way to preventing last minute blow ups. So if you are a Realtor dealing with radon, I hope these pointers help make you better prepared for the next run in with radon.
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