Radon enters a home through cracks and holes in the foundation and can also be found in well water. The main concern is radioactivity which becomes trapped in your lungs through normal breathing. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Although smoking by itself is the leading cause of cancer, when it is combined with elevated Radon levels, a person may be 10 to 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than from smoking alone. EPA estimates that 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has an elevated level of radon gas.
Any home can have a radon problem, new or old, with or without a basement.
If the property was built before 1978, the buyers have 10 days in which to conduct, at their expense, a lead-based paint inspection. The contract is contingent on this inspection and should the inspection not be satisfactory to the buyers, the buyers may then void the contract. If the home you intend to purchase was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint. Lead poisoning can cause Major health problems, especially in children under 7 years old because their bodies are not fully grown and are easily damaged. Damage a child's brain, nervous system, kidneys, hearing, or coordination.