Buying a Former Meth Lab House - Another Reason to Use a Buyers Agent

Jeff, thank you for the info and the link. Great to bring this very important matter to our attention.

Thanks for the tip. Meth labs are a pain to deal with. Sorry I stay away from those.

I am going to make this link part of my suggested diligence scope for my clients from now on.  Thanks a bunch.

Thanks for this post-a savvy buyer agent ensures the clients gets due diligence done to protect everyone.

I had not be aware of this website.. Thanks for sharing this invaluable information!  It is not the place to end, but a great place to start.

Yes, the buyers would have saved themselves the headaches (metaphorically and literally) if they had only hired a buyer's agent. Thanks Jeff for showing all how agents can put on their detective hats if necessary to look out for their clients' best interests.

Southern Oregon, ah yes . . . interesting interactive map I found on the subject.  Hope you don't mind me posting it:  Do You Live Near a Meth Lab

In Florida is we have both the buyer and seller our responsiblities to both parties are similar. We must disclose any material facts about the home. But even if I am the listing agent I have the responsibility. I don't think that having a buyer's agent is going to insure that a meth lab is discovered. In my opinion, working with an honest selling agent who is also acting as the buyers agent is just as likely to get the facts to the buyer as a buyers agent is. To assume that a sellers agents would do anything to hide such a serious fact is a bit distressing. I have fired sellers because they did not want me to disclose a material fact and I can assure you that if a home I had listed had previously been a meth lab I would make sure that the buyers knew it.

This happened in my neighborhood and the buyer used a REALTOR. That sure did not help the buyer.  95%+ agents would not know what you were talking about. They know about the money.

I had a situation that could have been similar to this a last year.  While checking the septic system to verify that the house was rated correctly as a 3-bedroom septic system instead of what the county records had rated as a 2-bedroom system, I discovered from the health records that the place had been used as a drug-manufacturing lab.  Further research revealed that the structure that was formerly on the lot was rated for 2-bedrooms and had been a drug lab.  That house had been demolished, the septic system replaced with a system rated for 3 bedrooms and all ended well.  And you are absolutely correct, there is no substitute for thorough research.

That's sick and those houses should NEVER be resold but scraped cleansed and rebuilt on if a good lot. To let another human being buy that because they didn't know is outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff -  This is why disclosures are so important though in California, foreclosures have many fewer disclosure requirements.

I think the best of source of such information would be : neighbors. They always know everything:)

Last year I sold a house that had a lot of 'fun' staff going on prior the foreclosure.....since it was REO and a bank 'had no knowledge', all information came from neighbors who gladly shared it with the buyer.

Good Morning:   This is some great Info for all in the market!!  Keep up the good work and good luck with your business,  E

Great information, thanks for sharing!! Buyers need to be aware of so many things when buying a home. It is a huge decision.

Good post Jeff. Due diligence is so important. Inna is right, neighbors can give you information. I was showing a foreclosed home to a buyer when a neighbor came around and told us how the previous owner had fallen and died in the house.

That's crazy! I think a bell would have rang in my head though....$36k for a house is just too good to be true.