Michelle Millikin

There are many environmental dangers and contaminants found within a home.  Buyers want to be assured that they are not purchasing a property at risk.  Below are some of the potential dangers and what a buyer can do to protect their risk:

Mold:  Mold is literally everywhere and there is no practical way to keep it out of a home.  Mold typically grows in warm, damp, humid conditions where there is little air movement.  Some molds can be harmful and sometimes make allergies and asthma worse.  Flooding, water leaks, overflowing bathtubs, condensation and humidity can increase the probability of mold within a home.  If a buyer suspects mold within a home, their first inclination is to have it tested to find out concentration and type of mold spore present.  This is thought to be unnecessary because there is no Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard regarding what is considered an unsafe level of mold and data is interpreted differently amongst “experts.”  It is more imperative to discover the source of the mold and clean it appropriately.  There may be visible mold but also a musty odor may be the off-gassing of mold colonies.  Elimination of the moisture source and a thorough cleaning.  More than likely, if there was a severe water damage at the property, there will have been an insurance claim which can be found in the seller’s CLUE report.

Lead:  Lead in a home is found in the paint or water pipes.  Consumption of lead or inhalation of its dust can poison children, cause lifelong disabilities or behavioral problems.  Many homes built before 1978 have lead paint on the walls, woodwork, windows and floors.  A buyer must receive a LBP Disclosure and give the buyer the right to conduct an assessment or investigation

Radon: Radon is found throughout the United States and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.  Radon comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water, which gets into the air.  The EPA issued a recommended threshold of radon action level of 4 picoCuries (pCi/L) per liter of air.  The EPA estimates that one in 15 homes nationwide has a radon level at or above this level.  Testing is the only way to determine a home’s radon level and is typically done at the time of a buyer’s home inspection.  The testing should be done in the lowest level of the home being used as living space, whether finished or not.

Carbon Monoxide:  Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas that comes from appliances that are not working appropriately, are poorly vented or being used incorrectly.  The appliances are typically furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves or other fuel-burning appliances.  The new Wisconsin Statute requires all homes have CO detectors beginning on February 1, 2011.

Asking for a home inspection is not enough to protect a buyer and allow for them to test for these concerns.  A testing contingency must be included within the offer to purchase to allow for such testing.  The contingency should also include what the buyer would like the seller to do if the testing comes out positive within the offer and not expect cooperation form the seller after the results are disclosed.