> The “Just Listed” Approach
In the last few years, radon testing has really come to the forefront in real estate. Most home buyers will request a radon test within their inspection contingency period.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from minerals in the ground including quartz and uranium, both of which are prevalent in the Grand Valley.
The traditional approach believes that radon levels in a house are what they are, and you can’t do anything about it.
It’s tradition to accept that radon testing happens during an inspection period, and that “we will deal with it should the reading come in high.” But, dealing with it could mean that you, the seller, will be required to negotiate installation of a radon mitigation system at your expense.
These systems typically cost $2000+ depending on the size and layout of your home.
> Homes Sold for MORE™ Process
As Sold for MORE™ real estate agents that provide exceptional experiences for our sellers, we don’t just ignore the possibility that you may be on the hook for a radon mitigation system. Our process is specifically designed to save Sold for MORE™ Sellers time and money.
Having high radon gas levels in any home is a serious matter and should be mitigated if need be. Radon gas exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking is number one.
If the reading is well above average, a mitigation system is the only recourse for lowering it. But we’ve found, and verified with numerous inspectors, that a good percentage of homes fail a radon test by a very small margin. This margin is so small, that a homeowner (with a little time and DIY-effort) may be able to perform minor fixes to lower radon levels enough to test below the EPA recommended guideline of 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). The EPA website itself states that roughly 50% of homes with a short-term test average just above 4.0 pCi/L will test below that level if a long-term test was performed.
During a real estate transaction, these minor fixes could save a homeowner from being forced into installing a costly mitigation system, not to mention major undo stress.
This is one reason why we help Sold for MORE™ Sellers with suggestions on ways to limit the flow of radon gas that could enter their home. Minor changes like caulking and sealing floor cracks can be just enough to get the reading to come down to a safe level.
We also recommend conducting a radon test before you go on the market. This puts you in control of the situation. Over the years as testing and mitigation systems have become more common, we’ve found overall that buyers have become more demanding about the installation of these systems. Not only has the demand for these systems increased, but buyers can get very particular about what type of system they are requesting.
We’ve experienced buyers requesting variations on systems that drive up the cost. One buyer even went so far as to ask for parts of the system to be painted the same color as the house to make it match. And this is all at the seller’s expense.
Why? As a safety concern, buyers feel they have the upper hand when requesting a mitigation system after a failed test.
We understand the stress a seller goes through after finally securing an offer. We don’t want Sold for MORE™ Sellers making an emotional decision (in the middle of a transaction), because they are afraid the buyer will walk away if they don’t comply.
This is just one more way we position you to have the upper hand in negotiations!
Fail to plan, and you’re planning to fail. Our Process plans for success!
Get your home Sold for MORE™!
