Page 63 - The Latest Homebuying Guide

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Step 7 – Bring in the inspectors

If your offer is accepted, your next step is to get a pest and a home
inspection. Apart from termites and other pests, inspect the house
for radon, lead, asbestos, polybutylene (blue pipe), and mold.

According to www.townhustle.com, termites cause damage to
600,000 homes per year, costing 5 to 6 billion dollars in treatment
and repairs. The average treatment cost per home runs between
$3,000 and $6,000.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the USA,
according to the Center For Disease Control (CDC). If you live in a
house where this radioactive gas is located, you will have an
increased risk of getting the disease. While you can buy a kit to
test your home, it may be better to have it tested by a professional
before you move in.

As stated by the EPA, “Lead can affect almost every organ and
system in your body. Children six years old and younger are most
susceptible to the effects of lead.” Even low levels of lead can be
dangerous. Be particular careful if you are pregnant, as lead can
be passed on to the fetus.

If the home was built before 1978, there is a good chance that lead
was in the paint. There is even a federally mandated disclosure
when selling a home, which is included in a law known as the
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 or Title
X. Some of the essential parts of the disclosure are:
● Disclosure of all known lead-based paint and hazards in the
home
● Seller must give you a ten-day opportunity to test the house for
lead.

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