Minnesota’s Radon Awareness Act will be enforced starting January 1st, 2014. Radon is a radioactive natural gas that steeps from the earth. Minnesota and Wisconsin are known for rich uranium and radium soils, the decay of these elements are the cause of Radon.
What does this mean for Sellers?
Sellers are not required to preform a Radon Test, however they will have to disclose if they ever conducted a test. This will be another property supplement that will be apart of your listing packet.
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Here are some of the features included in the disclosure:
1. whether a radon test or tests have occurred on the property;
2. the most current records and reports pertaining to radon concentrations within the dwelling;
3. a description of any radon concentrations, mitigation, or remediation;
4. information regarding the radon mitigation system, including system description and documentation, if such system has been installed in the dwelling; and
5. a radon warning statement
If your home to have a higher than 4.0 pCi/L reading, there is no requirement for you to fix the property. However, a buyer will more than likely not continue with the offer without negotiating the conditions of the sale. Installation of radon immigration will lower the radon levels in living areas by venting the gas to the outside of the building. The installation will have to be conducted by a certified and MDH-listed professional with cost varying on the conditions of the home.
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Radon testing isn’t intrusive to sellers. Any radon test that is less than three months long, will need to have closed-house conditions. That means keeping all windows and doors closed, except for normal entry and exit. Closed-house conditions are needed at least 12 hours before the test and 48 hours during.
What does this mean for Buyers?
The State of Minnesota issued this statement:
“The Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommends that ALL homebuyers have an indoor radon test performed prior to purchase or taking occupancy, and recommends having the radon levels mitigated if elevated radon concentrations are found. Elevated radon concentrations can easily be reduced by a qualified, certified or licensed, if applicable, radon mitigator.
Every buyer of any interest in residential real property is notified that Every buyer of any interest in residential real property is notified that the property may present exposure to dangerous levels of indoor radon gas that may place the occupants at risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer. Radon, a Class A human carcinogen, is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause overall. The seller of any interest in residential real property is required to provide the buyer with any information on radon test results of the dwelling.”
Radon Testing isn’t expensive, however it could add to your inspection period of your offer. The shortest radon tests still take 48 hours with the results needing to be analyzed by a lab. If Radon testing is something that you might want to do in the future, notify Amy ahead of time so that we can plan accordingly with a certified and MDH-listed professional. It’s always best to have your inspectors picked prior to showings. Some labs will need results in by Wednesday to be completed by the weekend. This might means extension of your inspection period included in your offer.
Radon is a deadly gas, but it can be minimized with the installation of a radon immigration system. If you would feel more comfortable will the installation of this system, we can negotiate it in the terms of your offer.
If you have any specific questions in regards to Radon Testing, let us know by emailing theWesterlundTeam@gmail.com
