Environmental Concerns
Environmental problems in and around the home have become increasingly important to home buyers. Some building materials that were previously used are now known to be potentially dangerous to our health. Some hazards you can readily see by visual examination and others need special tests performed to find or measure the hazard. Sellers have an obligation to honestly answer home buyers' questions about environmental hazards in their home.
The three most common risks are radon, lead and asbestos. Leaking underground storage tanks are also a major concern for home buyers and sellers. One attorney likes to quip that he can remember when finding oil in the ground was a good thing! Now oil in the ground may be coming from a tank and it can be very expensive to have it cleaned up.
Radon is present in about 1 out of 15 homes in the country. Testing should be conducted in the basement where radon levels are the highest. Mitigation systems can reduce the level of radon to a safer level if a high count is found upon testing.
Lead Paint is found in about one third of houses built between 1940 and 1960. Lead paint was banned in 1978 because it was found to be harmful to human body systems, particularly children. Lead paint inspections can cost several hundred dollars. Lead can also be found in the water.
Asbestos was found to be a wonderful insulator and because it was fire retardant and durable, considered a stellar building product. Unfortunately, it was discovered that workers exposed to asbestos showed an increased risk of cancer and it has been banned from usage since 1979. Prior to 1973, it was used in flooring, ceiling tiles, duct wrapping on heating and air conditioning systems, and insulation for hot water pipes and boilers, and for fireproofing. Asbestos is only dangerous when it is what they call 'friable', that is, loose or crumbling.
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