JANUARY IS NATIONAL RADON AWARENESS MONTH!  Please take a moment to learn more about this silent killer.

Radon is essentially a naturally occuring, radioactive, odorless and tasteless gas that can be dangerous, and even deadly, to you and your family.  Radon claims 22,000 lives annually through lung cancer and the complications connected.  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, behind smoking.

This is to inform you, not scare you, so allow me to share some promising news before I continue.  IF your home has an elevated level of radon (4 pCi/L or more), there is a remedy!  Due to the sheer weight of this heavy gas, elevated readings will only be detected on the lower-most level of a structure (home/office). 

In homes with basements, especially where a sump pump exists, this is a fairly easy fix.  In-fact, I had a mitigation system installed in my home today, a process that took approximately 3 hours, and was approximately $800.

I STRONGLY encourage you to test your home.  For a nominal cost, you can purchase online, or head to your local Home Depot, Lowes, or comparable retailer, a test kit for a nominal fee (approximately $10 - $30).  A 3 to 4 day test, coupled with a lab cost of approximately $25 will provide your results.
  Take a minute to review this public service announcement about radon:

 For more information, click here for the EPA's, Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon, which is helpful, resourceful, and easy-to-understand.

To be clear, I am not an expert in radon, home inspections, cancer, or the prevention thereof, but am sure to ALWAYS inform my clients of this critical topic and strongly encouring their testing for radon during the inspection process.  There is a reason a radon mitigation system is installed in my home. 

Hopefully this has helped you in some way, and thank you for reading.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I will be happy to direct you to the certified home inspector that handles my radon testing. 

_______________________________________________________________

Derek Bauer is an Associate Broker and Realtor® with Real Estate One, Michigan's Largest Real Estate company.  Derek is also the lead of the Derek Bauer's, "Door to Dreams Team."  As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, Derek is helping homeowners avoid, and even reverse, foreclosure.  Learn more at http://DoorToDreams.com.  Derek Bauer is licensed in Real Estate in the State of Michigan, is not an attorney, and can not and does not provide legal advice and/or counsel.