Scary things and home buying...

I got an email today from the folks at http://www.asbestos.com/ asking if I'd consider adding their site to the links that I maintain here and on my various Web sites. So, I went to their site and looked around - it certainly looks like both a legit site and one that has lots of good information about mesothelioma, the type of cancer that is caused by asbestos. So go there and read about it.

That got me to thinking about all of the scary things that can be found in homes and which cause some would-be home buyers to back off of a sale, most times unnecessarily. Now, don't get me wrong; every one of the dangers that I'm about to discuss are very real and can cause serious health problems, including death. That sounds like one of those pill commercials on TV doesn't it? Here are some of the biggies to watch out for when buying a home.

Obviously the presence of asbestos in or on the home. Many older homes have asbestos wrapped pipes, especially those with steam or hot water heat. Many also were sided with asbestos siding or have floors covered with asbestos-based tile. Some may have also been insulated with vermiculite, which was later discovered to have asbestos embedded in it. There are lots of potential sources in most older homes. It is also true that most of that asbestos is "locked into" the products that it was used in, whether that be siding or tile or even wrapped pipes. However, the unsuspecting home owner may undertake some remodeling project that involves demolition of some of these things without realizing that the very act of breaking up the product that the asbestos is in will release the deadly asbestos dust that causes mesothelioma. So my advice is to get a good handle on where the asbestos is in your house and NEVER disturb it without a professional involved.

Radon is perhaps more prevalent in our area as a carcinogen. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is a by-product of the decay of uranium in the ground. The glaciers that once covered Michigan resulted in good natural soil conditions for the release of Radon, so lots of our houses test positive for it. Many houses already have Radon remediation systems installed. Radon seeks the lowest level in the house and it seeks a way into the house around or through cracks in the basement floor. Remediation system are installed that create a vacuum under the basement slab and capture the Radon and exhaust it out of the house. Buyers should always get a radon test for any house that has a basement that is used, or will be used, as living space.

Mold is likely the third leading cause of both problems and failed real estate sales. It is unfortunate that misinformation and general FUD about mold has caused such concerns. Literally every house has some mold, most of it simple, non-toxic, everyday mildew. But there are the occasional cases of the dreaded “black mold”, which is a toxic mold that can and does cause serious health problems. A good home inspector will find any mold in the house and may be able to identify to or at least collect a sample and send it off for identification, if it looks suspicious. Mold, like Radon can be easily remediated and does not have to be a show stopper on any sale. What you do need to get is a good remediation estimate to pout into your offer as a contingency addendum.

Gases venting from sources like new carpeting or paint or even Chinese wallboard can be another source of major health problems. I have had clients who would become ill upon waling into a newly carpeted room. Ingredients in the glues of some new carpets include Formaldehyde, which some people are allergic to and which can make them violently ill. There are lots of court cases right now against the distributor of a specific brand of Chinese-made wallboard that apparently contains toxic chemicals that make homeowners sick.

So are all of these potential health risks reason enough not to look at buying a new home? No, but they are reasons to get good inspections and to visit the home enough times and for long enough to see if just being there makes you feel ill. You really don’t want to close on a house and go “home” for the first night, only to wake up ill or to discover years after you bought the place that it has been exposing your to cancer causing sources. I certainly won’t say buyer beware so much as buyer be informed and then take action on that information.