Radon is important to know about whether you are a buyer or a seller in our market.  So, What is Radon? Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is everywhere in the world, however, most common in parts of the world that have a very small distance between bedrock and top soil.  Radon is a heavy gas that dissipates in soil and collects in the lowest levels of structures. If there is a basement in the home it will collect in the basement, if there is no basement and crawl space it will collect in the crawl space.

Why does all of this matter?

According to the US Surgeon General, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.  The US government has determined that there are safe and unsafe levels of Radon. The Government has said that anything over 4pCi/L is unsafe. When a buyer puts a home under contract they can inspect the home.  The inspector can do a Radon test and determine the level of radon in the home.

The testing equipment will be placed in the lowest level of the home that can be occupied. The test will run for 24 to 48 hours and will provide the buyer with an average reading.  If the level is over 4pCi/L. the buyer may asked the seller to install a radon mitigation system.  A mitigation system will cost anywhere from $750 to $1,400.  Homes may already have a active mitigation system or passive system.  It is still wise to have a test done to insure that they system is working and removing the gas from the home.

How common is it to have radon in a home in the Fort Collins area?  The City of Fort Collins has said that they believe that as much as 70% of Fort Collins home have levels of 4pCi/L or above.  The City of Fort Collins requires that all buyers purchasing a home in Fort Collins receive a pamphlet that explains this issue. Remember that this is a problem that can be fixed. Contact us for your real estate questions we would be happy to help.