When selling or buying a home, there are many important things to think about. Three important issues include Radon, Mold and Lead Based Paint. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that enters buildings from the surrounding soil. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive and deadly.  Mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma, other respiratory complaints and also can destroy a home if it is not eliminated. Lead Based Paint can cause birth defects in infants and difficulty breathing and even brain damage in children!

Radon Gas

Mold

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes throughout the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and enters the air you breathe.. Radon moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  Once the gas enters your home, it can be trapped inside. Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more).  Contact your state radon office for information about radon in your area. For more information on radon, please visit the following: Radon Map of Wyoming shows where radon is most prevalent in the state.   "Buying a New Home: How to Protect Your Family From Radon?" This link explains why it is important to purchase a radon resistant home and how to make your home radon resistant. How to Test Your Home for Radon Gas.  Free information on how to test your home for Radon Gas. RADON CAN GET IN YOUR HOUSE THROUGH - Cracks in solid floors - Construction joints - Cracks in walls - Gaps in suspended floors - Gaps around service pipes - Cavities inside walls - The water supply

Molds can be found virtually anywhere; they can grow on any substance, providing moisture is present. Unfortunately, there is no simple or cost-effective way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in your indoor environment but you can control mold growth by controlling the moisture level. If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture. Start by reducing indoor humidity levels to 30-60%.  You can also decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning. For more information on mold, please visit the following: Mold and your home.  This link gives you general information about home mold and shows you how to find if your home has mold.  Cleaning up mold can be a laborious task.  Click here for tips on how to effectively remove mold and mold spores from your home. Asthma and mold can be a deadly combination.  This link will show you how mold can cause an asthma attack and what triggers to watch for. Lead Based Paint Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains high levels of lead (called lead based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. What you should know about Lead Based Paint: FACT:  Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. FACT:  Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. FACT:  People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead. FACT:  People have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard. FACT:  Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family. Click Here to learn more about Lead Based Paint. (You must have Adobe Reader to View this helpful brochure provided by the EPA.)

Selling Your Home >Effective Marketing If your home has been listed for a number of weeks and you have only seen it featured in one newspaper ad, you may start feeling anxious. Although your house is being shown regularly, you wonder if the agent is doing enough. Home sellers often equate effective marketing with classified ads in the weekend Sunday real estate section. However, the most skilled real estate agents know the market well enough to be aware of where the prospective buyers for your home are likely to come from. They will look for the best ways to reach those people through direct mail, telephone contact or specialized ads in neighborhood publications. They will also work to get their colleagues excited about your house, especially agents who have many listings or sales in your neighborhood. And remember--it is important for you and your agent to communicate often so you will know exactly what is being done to sell your home. See All Tips In The "Selling Your Home" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  What does the common acronym FSBO (pronounced fizzbo) stand for? A  For Sale By Owner. (Between 85 to 95% of existing homes are sold with a Realtor's help.) See More Real Estate Trivia >

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