16 min read
Buying a house with radon
Testing before closing, and when it is a deal breaker.
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Radon when you buy or sell a home
Radon in a home sale: testing before closing, the inspection, disclosure and negotiation.
Buying and selling
What this topic covers
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.”
EPA “…if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you.”
EPA
Guides
Guides and pages in Buying and selling
5 to read, the one to start with first.
- 16 min read
Selling a house with radon
Test before you list, fix it on your timeline, and show your work.
- 15 min read
Radon testing during a home inspection
Timing, the tester, the report and the negotiation.
- Overview page
State radon programs
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
Questions in Buying and selling
The 6 most asked of 7, each with its short answer.
Should I buy a house with radon?
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 answerShould I get a radon test with my home inspection?
Yes, 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 answerDoes a radon mitigation system hurt resale value?
We know of no published figure showing that a radon mitigation system lowers resale value.
Read the full answerIs it hard to sell a house with radon?
Radon need not block a sale: where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated.
Read the full answerDoes radon testing affect a home sale?
It can shape the deal, but rarely ends it.
Read the full answerShould I buy a home with a radon mitigation system already installed?
Yes, 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