After months of searching, you have finally found it. The home of your dreams. It is everything you ever wanted in a house, except for one small issue — it requires the installation of a radon mitigation system before you are able to move in. While many potential homebuyers, may shy away from buying a home needing radon mitigation, it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. Today there are multiple solutions for mitigating radon gas safely and thoroughly.
What You Need to Do Before Closing on a Home with Radon Gas
If you are determined to close on a home which needs radon mitigation, it is critical that you take the lead and remain in control throughout the entire process. Never allow the seller of the home to deal with the radon mitigation alone or you may be in for a lot of disappointment after you move in. Be smart and follow these five guidelines to prevent the seller from taking advantage of you.
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Choose the type of mitigation system you want.
There are a variety of systems available, and not all of them are the same when it comes to effectiveness or price. Nationally, the average cost of radon mitigation ranges widely depending on the location and type of systems. The typical cost can be anywhere from $850-$1,500 dollars. If you leave the purchase and installation of system up to the home seller, you are likely to find yourself with a cheap, ineffective system which you will end up replacing on your own dime.
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Request the money for the radon mitigation in escrow.
Instead of depending on the seller to install the system before closing on the property, you might want to consider getting several estimates for the cost to install the type of system you want, and then have the seller place money in an escrow account to cover the expense. This will let you close on your home quicker and guarantees you will have complete control when it comes to purchasing and installing your system.
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Buy the right system for your home.
There are many types of radon mitigation systems available, but the three most common types are active suction, passive suction, and sub-membrane systems. Active suction systems use an electric fan to remove radon gas from collecting. Passive suction systems utilize vents to remove radon gas without power and are not acceptable for many older homes. Sub-membrane systems use plastic sheeting to prevent gas from seeping into your home along with vents and an electric fan to disperse the trapped radon gas.
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Install the system with your own contractors.
The health of yourself and your family depends on the proper installation of your home’s mitigation system. Hiring your own contractors is one of the best ways to make sure the work is completed correctly.
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Seek out the best companies and service warranties in your area.
Radon mitigation systems need servicing from time-to-time so you must make sure the system’s manufacturer and the company that installs it will continue to be around in the future. Research all of your options carefully to avoid getting locked in with a company you won’t be able to depend on in the future.
Radon gas is deadly, but fixing the problem doesn’t need to be scary. Take the time to do it right the first time and you will prevent a lot of problems in the future.
Before closing on my house I had never heard of radon gas is a problem. It is good to know that a radon mitigation service will solve the problem. I’ll have to research and make sure that I have the right system for my home.
Thanks for the really good tips on what to do if buying a home that needs a radon mitigation system, especially where you mention that it is important to hire your own contractors. In my opinion, an added benefit of using your own contractors would be that if anything happened with the system or if it needed repairs, you would know who to call. I’ll have to look more into a contractor that installs radon mitigation systems.
If I’m buying a home and have a radon text done and it comes back at a 4.1. Does the house need mitigation?
Hello Kim,
Per the EPA, homes with levels 4.0 and above are recommended to have mitigation systems installed. However, in our professional opinion, the lowest one can get radon levels, the better. Please see a citizen’s guide to radon <https://www.epa.gov/radon/citizens-guide-radon-guide-protecting-yourself-and-your-family-radon> for more information. Our technicians are always happy to help answer any questions you have as well.
My new home might need this mitigation. I’ll see about adding a system to do this. It would have to be installed by a trained professional.
My husband and I are about to buy a house, and we were told that it needs mitigation, so we are looking for advice. I like that you recommend choosing the type of mitigation system you want, and request the money in escrow. I will make sure that I follow your advice to ensure that we get what we prefer, and buy the right system for our house.