A4HB Homebuyer's Blog

Water Quality

The safety of the home’s water supply is a common concern when the water source is a private well. Most counties in our area used to require a test for bacterial contamination as part of the sale of homes dependent on a water well. This is no longer the case, but it is still customary for sellers to provide a “safe water test,” indicating that the well is free from certain forms of bacteria. But bacteria are not necessarily the most common or the most serious hazard in well water. Well water may contain minerals, heavy metals, and radioactive substances

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Asbestos

Asbestos, which was commonly used in a variety of building materials through the 1970s, can cause cancer and a variety of other lung diseases. According to the EPA, asbestos can pose serious health risks when small particles are released into the air. In homes, this tends to happen when building materials containing asbestos begin to deteriorate or when these materials are damaged during repair or remodeling projects. Most home inspectors can recognize building materials that are likely to contain asbestos. Confirmation requires taking samples of these materials and having them analyzed by a lab. In general, if asbestos materials are

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Lead Based Paint

There is strong and widely accepted evidence that exposure to lead contributes to a wide range of health problems. This evidence led to the removal of lead from gasoline and to prohibiting its use in most paints and construction materials after 1978. Several years ago, the federal government began to require the use of a contract addendum regarding lead based paint for all sales (and rentals) of homes and condos built prior to 1978. This addendum requires that the seller disclose any knowledge of lead based paint in the house and requires that the buyer have the option of testing

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Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that enters the home through the soil or water and may create increased risks of lung cancer. Most homes in the Boulder County and Denver Metro area real estate market have radon levels higher than those considered safe by the EPA. In Boulder County, radon testing is a routine component of home inspections, but it is less common in other area real estate markets. Most professional home inspectors do radon testing, typically charging about $130. Mitigation for radon problems is generally not difficult, nor is it prohibitively expensive. Typically, a pipe is inserted through the

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Methamphetamine Contamination

We are currently recommending that every buyer we work with conduct a screening test for meth contamination on any house or condo that they’re thinking about buying. Especially at high levels, there are proven health risks associated with living in a home with meth contamination. But the risk of buying a meth contaminated home in Colorado is at least as much a financial issue as a health and safety issue. Under current Colorado law, a home (or car or office building) is defined as a meth lab if meth has been manufactured, stored, or used on the property. And if

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Health Hazards

Much of what the professional inspector does in evaluating the electrical, heating and plumbing systems is relevant to the issue of safety. When these systems are not working properly, they can create serious hazards for the occupants of a home. There are other health issues associated with the home you may buy that are beyond the purview of a real estate inspector and the carpenters, plumbers, and electricians that complete routine home repairs

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