MOLD SAMPLING - DO YOU NEED IT?

RADON TESTING - SHOULD YOU DO IT?

YOUR REALTOR - HOW TO CHOOSE ONE.

The CDC brochure FACTS ABOUT MOLD AND DAMPNESS is very insightful - www.cdc.gov. After it explains that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects, all the way from “none at all” to “serious infections”, it goes on to say:

“You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you can not rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk."

If there is a serious concern over hidden mold, it is best to conduct a mold analysis based on the ERMI - Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, developed by the EPA, which is based on DNA testing. $50 to $300 Do-It-Yourself test kits can be ordered from Assured Bio.com, which is located in Oak Ridge TN.

Testing is encouraged by the EPA, and radon is a common discovery in the basements of East Tennessee. Besides the increased lung cancer risk, there is also the potential expense of needing a mitigation system ($1500 to $2500). Both "risks" need to be considered, and the only way to know is to test.

Keep in mind the limitations of the 48 hour test which is allowed in real estate transactions. Depending upon many factors, the radon in a house can fluctuate widely by the hour, the day, or the season, so the 48hr. test is a very limited “snapshot” of the reality. Also, the test can be unfair to either the home buyer or the seller. A temporary low reading may convince the home buyer that a radon problem is not present when actually there is a problem, or a temporary high reading may be used to induce the seller to install a mitigation system that is not actually needed.

The only true radon test is an Alpha-Track Test of 1 year (costing $25). Alpha-Track Tests can also be conducted from 90 days up to 365 days.

Choosing the right realtor is not a simple matter. There is an old saying: A good lawyer is expensive, and a bad lawyer is VERY expensive. This is equally true when it comes to the real estate business. Your realtor's actions can have a long lasting impact on both your pocket book and your peace of mind, so you owe it to yourself to do some research. Some very good reading on the subject can be found at: About.com - "How to Find, Interview and Hire a Real Estate Agent," which has a group of 35 wide ranging and well written articles.

The home inspector's point of view: If anything a home inspector appreciates, is the realtor that does not panic when a problem is found, but prepares to "work the problem" as it comes to light. The most productive realtors that I have seen over the years have a dependable list of qualified sub-contractors to call upon to estimate the costs of any serious issues. This is often the difference between a successful or unsuccessful transaction.