The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. Radon gas is a naturally occurring, cancer-causing radioactive gas found in the soil. You cannot see, taste, or smell radon and it easily penetrates sheetrock, concrete block, wood paneling, insulation, etc.
Since 2014, Minnesota Law has required that all homebuyers are educated about radon gas. Homebuyers need to be aware that radon may be present in a home they are about to purchase and understand the possible effects.
Because of this law, when the time comes to sell your home, there will more than likely be a radon test performed as a part of the home inspection. The test is generally a cost covered by the buyer and is conducted in close to 90% of our transactions today.
If the test shows radon levels to be high, there are three options. The buyer can cancel the purchase agreement and move onto another property, the buyer can assume the responsibility of installing a radon mitigation system after closing, or they can ask the seller to install one. Radon mitigation systems are designed to expel the radon gas from the home and will typically cost around $1,500.
As your real estate experts want to make you aware of things that can affect the value of your home.
Our advice: have a radon test done.
See what your levels are. Because radon levels can fluctuate based on multiple factors from a home’s air exhaust to weather, it’s a good idea to do a long-term test over the course of 6 to 12 months. A charcoal radon gas detector costs around $40 and will provide you a more accurate idea of the radon levels present in your home.
If your levels come back high, you can plan to put in a mitigation system and have the full benefit of knowing that you are breathing clean air for as long as you own the home. Then, when the time comes to sell, you have one less thing to think about, and additionally, you will have made your home potentially more valuable in the buyer’s eye.
If you have any further questions…please do not hesitate to give your agent or Fazendin Realtors a call – 952.473.7000!