What Every Realtor Should Know About Radon Testing

It’s no secret that real estate is a popular career choice, but that doesn’t mean every agent has all the knowledge necessary to do the job perfectly. Unfortunately, many real estate agents ignore things they can’t see, including radon gas. You’ve probably heard of radon in regard to its risks; however, you might not know much about it or the importance of testing for it. Follow along to learn what every realtor should know about radon testing.

Radon Can Be Anywhere

As a realtor, you should know about the surrounding area, including its radon levels. You shouldn’t expect radon levels in a particular home to be safe just because the house next door has safe levels. Radon gas can be anywhere, regardless of the measurements in the area. Testing is always a good idea when working with clients buying and selling homes.

Testing Should Precede the Transaction

Radon testing is a relatively normal aspect of a home inspection, and most buyers will expect to see the results. As a realtor, you should be aware of this fact in order to guide the seller in the right direction. Generally, the seller should include radon testing as a part of the home inspection during the selling process. However, sellers can also do the radon test before putting their property on the market; this way, they can provide the results to the buyer right away.

Advising Clients on High Radon Levels

Testing is crucial; what happens when the results aren’t good? High radon levels aren’t detrimental when selling a home, as radon reduction methods tend to succeed. With that in mind, tell your clients not to panic if their radon test results in high levels. Instead, they should work with a professional radon mitigation specialist to determine the best next steps for their situation.

Is Mitigation Expensive?

Even though nobody wants to deal with high radon levels, most mitigation methods cost roughly $1,000. This amount may seem high to many people, but it’s relatively low compared to other home repairs, like roof or furnace replacements. Also, your clients don’t have to do this alone—most professional radon testing service companies also specialize in ventilation methods and installing radon mitigation systems.

After learning what every realtor should know about radon testing, you can advise your clients on real estate transactions and radon gas. While radon exposure is dangerous, home buyers and sellers don’t have to panic when dealing with high levels and mitigation—it’s a solvable problem.