Hazardous Duty (Part 1 of 2)

Every house has a quirk or two, whether it’s a porch light that flickers when it rains or a bathroom door that won’t stay closed. Homeowners learn to live with such inconveniences, and buyers expect little surprises like these to surface in the months after they close. However, some houses have things like aluminum wiring, radon, lead-based paint, asbestos, and mold. Far from quirky, these conditions are a bit more troublesome and, depending on the situation, may actually affect someone’s health. It’s not your job to search for or fix these conditions, but it’s a good idea to know a little about them to assist your clients. Many environmental and man-made conditions in homes worry people, so you can help your clients understand the risks and reach a logical conclusion. You can provide your seller with information on what to do if his house contains such a condition or assist your buyer in finding a qualified professional to assess the impact of such a condition.


Aluminum wiring. Just because a house has aluminum wiring doesn’t mean a buyer should immediately assume that it needs to be rewired. Many homes built in the late 1960s and early 1970s were wired with aluminum, which can be just as safe as copper wire as long as it has been installed correctly. Aluminum wires expand and contract more than copper ones as they warm and cool. Also, aluminum wires tend to oxidize when in contact with certain metals. When aluminum oxidizes, it heats up more to conduct the same amount of electricity, which then causes more oxidation. Eventually, aluminum wires may start to overheat and melt the attached fixture.

If your clients are considering purchasing a home with aluminum wiring, recommend that they hire a licensed electrician or inspector to check the wiring system for any potential problems. There are several safe remedies available to them besides a complete rewiring of the house.

Radon. In addition to the standard real estate inspection, your buyers might want to consider a test for radon. This colorless, odorless gas occurs naturally in the soil as a by-product of decaying uranium, and breathing its particles increases a person’s risk of developing lung cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Certain areas of the country are more prone to radon than others, but it exists in every state. And radon levels can even vary from house to house on a given street, depending on the soil surrounding the structure and construction techniques used. Radon from the soil enters a home through small openings, such as tiny cracks in the concrete foundation, making lower levels of structures more susceptible to radon. The gas also can seep into ground water, putting houses that use well water at a higher risk for radon than those on a municipal supply.

The EPA recommends that buyers ask for either recent test results or to have the property tested. Even very high radon levels can be successfully lowered in a house through relatively inexpensive methods. Your clients can learn more about radon testing and remediation by calling the National Radon Hotline at 800/SOS-RADON; this hotline will send consumers information as well as discount coupons for radon test kits.

Asbestos. Once used in a variety of construction applications because of its durability, strength, and resistance to fire, asbestos was discovered to have one large drawback: It’s a carcinogen. If inhaled, the fibrous material lodges in the lungs and -- because of its durability -- stays in the tissues. Repeated exposures can lead to lung and stomach cancer. Asbestos use was curtailed in the 1970s. Before then, however, it was used in floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, roofing, shingles, siding, and some shielding around heating and electrical systems. Properly installed, asbestos-containing materials do not usually present a health risk. As long as the materials remain intact, the fibers cannot be released into the air; the danger arises when the materials begin to deteriorate or need to be disturbed due to remodeling or other work.

Buyers concerned about asbestos in a home should consult their local real estate inspector or state agency for more information about asbestos, its inspection, and its remediation.

By: Ward Lowe, www.texasrealtors.com