Buying a house with radon
Testing before closing, and when it is a deal breaker.
Read the guideCounty radon reportThe RADON411 Location Report
Your county's EPA zone, the tests reported there and how to test this week, in one dated PDF.
ResourcesGuides by topic
Radon in a home sale: testing before closing, the inspection, disclosure and negotiation.
Buying and selling
These guides cover radon in a home sale: testing before closing, the home inspection, what a seller discloses, and how a result shapes the negotiation.
“EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you consider buying.”
“…if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you.”
Guides
5 to read, the one to start with first.
Testing before closing, and when it is a deal breaker.
Read the guideTest before you list, fix it on your timeline, and show your work.
Timing, the tester, the report and the negotiation.
Every U.S. state and DC runs, or designates, a radon program. Each entry shows only what that program's own page stated when Radon411 read it, and the date it was read.
Short answers
Each with its short answer.
You can buy a house with radon: a high level is a problem that can be fixed, usually with a vent pipe and fan system that costs about the same as other common home repairs.
Read the full answerYes, unless the house has a recent test you can rely on: if the home has not been tested, have it tested, and a qualified radon tester is very often a home inspector.
Read the full answerWe know of no published figure showing that a radon mitigation system lowers resale value.
Read the full answerRadon need not block a sale: where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated.
Read the full answerIt can shape the deal, but rarely ends it.
Read the full answerYes, it can be a good sign: a system means a radon problem was found and fixed, and where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked.
Read the full answer