What Does Radon Mean to You?
In order to keep you informed about important events and information regarding the Las Cruces community (and beyond), we have decided that it is important to inform our readers about the dangers of
Radon and how to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects.
Simply put, radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally caused by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water that eventually gets into the air that we breathe. Like carbon monoxide, radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and these reasons are the biggest contributing factors as to why it’s taken so long for radon to gain widespread notice. Radon is found all over the US and is explicitly linked to lung cancer; people who smoke and are exposed to radon are at an extreme risk. Radon makes its way into homes through general wear and tear like cracks in the walls, foundations, floors, and around pipes, as well as leaky windows and in the water.
With the scary stuff being said, there are many ways to protect yourself and your family from radon. Unfortunately, there is no where “safe” to live; radon has been detected all over the country (and then some), but most newer homes have been built to withstand radon interference. Some state and local governments have gone as far as mandating such as the norm for construction of new homes, so if you’re in the market to buy, keep that in mind when looking for your dream house. Always make sure to ask your real estate agent about the testing of a home before starting the buying process; short term tests can take about 2-3 days and sometimes up to about 90 days, and although the results aren’t as valid as the long term test results, they can serve as a great indicator of what you’re up against. As a buyer, it is completely reasonable and acceptable to request that you wait for the results of a radon test, and that the seller control elevated radon levels. On the other hand, as a seller, it is important to start the process of radon testing in order to ensure a smooth selling process. Radon tests are relatively inexpensive and are not very complex. Most home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s sell DIY radon test kits, and the EPA has an index to help you with radon testing. CLICK HERE to read more.
Keeping up with home repairs over the years is now more important than ever. What seem like minor problems (old windows, small cracks around pipes), can turn into something much more terrible. The EPA is working on educating everyone about radon without causing widespread panic, and there are several informative websites with preventative steps that you can take to arm yourself from radon.
We hope you found this to be educative and significant to your life. Rest assured that as a Las Cruces real estate agent, I make it a point to fully inform my clients about radon and what it means to everyone. To learn more about radon in the real estate process, see the links below.
To see the EPA’s overview on radon, CLICK HERE.
To see the EPA’s Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about radon testing, CLICK HERE.
To see more facts about radon from radon.com, CLICK HERE.
**************************
Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com
For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE
We welcome comments and questions – CLICK HERE
Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698
Tags:current, first time home buyer, helpful hints, home buyer information, homebuyer tips, homebuyers, Las cruces helpful hints, Las cruces Real Estate Market, sell your home
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:10 am
I didn’t realize that radon was so dangerous until the alerts started going out. It would be sad to experience such exposure due to lack of home repair and maintenance.