Radon in Relo – Top 5 Things to Know About Radon During a Corporate Relocation
A last-minute radon gas concern is not welcome during the corporate relocation process. Transferees are already stressed with moving to a new city, starting a new job, and finding new schools, doctors, and services for their families. Any hiccups a transferee can avoid when selling or buying a home during this process improves their peace of mind.
Is Radon Testing Required To Sell A Home: Radon and Moving
The EPA recommends testing for radon when buying a new home. Many states require that known radon levels in a home be disclosed during a real estate transaction. This presents two challenges:
- Will the home the transferee is selling have high radon levels and cause a last-minute snag in trying to sell their home?
- How will the transferee know if the new home they are moving to is safe from high radon levels?
Radon and the health of transferees and their families
Radon is a radioactive gas that is the #1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the #2 cause of lung cancer nationwide. The gas forms from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water around a house. It then seeps into a home through cracks in the foundation, sump pumps, and holes around floor joints and pipes.
When inhaled into the lungs, radon decays into radioactive alpha particles. These radioactive particles damage the DNA of cells that line the lungs which can lead to lung cancer. The radon risk for children is even higher because they have smaller lungs and faster breathing rates.
Can radon be reduced in a home (hint: yes!)
Radon should not deter a new home purchase or sale during a relocation because mitigation systems can bring radon levels down to levels that the EPA and Health Canada have designated as safe.
Radon reduction and mitigation systems can reduce home radon levels by as much as 99%. If home radon levels are equal to or exceed 4.0 pCi/L (in U.S.) or 200 Bq/m3 (in Canada) then a radon reduction system should be installed by a certified radon professional.
Radon mitigation techniques include fixing cracks, securing crawl spaces, and plugging any openings that may allow radon to seep into a home or building as well as installation of pipes, fans, and venting to redistribute radon outdoors and away from the structure.
Radon variations within the U.S. and Canada
Radon can vary from home to home within the same neighborhood or even between neighboring condominiums in the same building. Weather, temperature, wind, and shifting soil will cause radon levels to vary. Geological changes, environmental changes, and even simple structural changes to a home can impact radon levels which is why the EPA also recommends testing every two years.
While it’s true that some regions of the country have lower or higher levels of radon, high radon levels have been found in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada. Research shows that in areas with low average radon levels, there can be homes with extremely elevated levels – even 4 and 5 times the actionable levels.
Radon protection plans for relocation
With a radon protection plan provided by HomeBuyer’s Preferred both the origination and destination properties can be protected. A home is tested with a long-term radon detector which provides the most accurate measurement of radon exposure in a home. All radon related issues are covered – including radon mitigation/remediation (if needed) and a post mitigation test to confirm radon levels have been successfully reduced.
About HomeBuyer’s Preferred
Established in 1993, Homebuyer’s Preferred (HBP) specializes in radon gas protection plans solely for the relocation industry. A provider of radon testing, radon mitigation, and certified radon reports, Homebuyer’s Preferred eliminates all radon related issues during home relocation for the buyer and the seller.
Published
February 14, 2024
