BLOG: Keeping it Real (Estate) with Deanna - The 101 on Radon

Most people don’t spend much time thinking of radon, but if you’re buying or selling homes you need to be aware.

Radon is an odorless and invisible naturally occurring gas found in soil that has been linked to cancer. Thankfully, there are tests to discover if the radon in a home are at acceptable levels. If levels are high, it does not mean you’re purchasing a bad home, as Iowa has a lot of radon. It does mean, however, that you need to have it mitigated for your safety. The Iowa Department of Public Health considers average radon levels of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) elevated and highly recommends mitigation. The department estimates that as many as 5 in 7 homes across the state have elevated radon levels.

Mitigation can be costly. It’s not uncommon for it to run $1,000 or more. In our market buyers pay for the testing (about $100) and the seller is usually asked to remedy if the reading is above unsafe levels. A Realtor will walk you through the testing and mitigation process.

For detailed information on radon call the state radon program at 800-383-5992 or  to to www.epa.gov/radon.

Have a real estate question?  Send it my way!

 

Thanks!

Deanna

Deanna Howard, Realtor, SFR, CREN

Iowa Realty
752 10th Street
Marion, Iowa 52302
(319) 929-3836

dhoward@iowarealty.com

www.deannahoward.com

Licensed in the State of Iowa