Radon in Bergen County: 7 Facts for Home Sellers and Buyers
Who this is for: sellers preparing for a buyer's inspection and buyers deciding whether to test, in Fort Lee, Leonia, Englewood, Tenafly, Teaneck and the towns around them.
1. Most of our towns are rated moderate, not high.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rates Fort Lee, Leonia, Englewood, Tenafly, Cliffside Park, Edgewater and Palisades Park as Tier 2, meaning moderate radon potential. Teaneck is Tier 3, or low. No Bergen County town is Tier 1.
2. Moderate still means test.
A town's rating describes the area, not your house. Two homes on the same block can test very differently.
3. If you tested, you must share it.
New Jersey law does not require a seller to test. But a seller who has tested must give the buyer a copy of the results, and proof of any mitigation, when the contract is signed.
4. Only certified professionals can test for a buyer.
New Jersey requires radon testers and mitigators to be certified by the state. Owners may test their own home, but a real estate test should come from a certified tester.
5. The house has to be closed up first.
For shorter tests, windows and doors must stay closed for 12 hours before the test begins. The state also calls for duplicate tests in real estate transactions.
6. The action level is 4.
The state recommends fixing the home when radon reaches 4 picocuries per liter or more.
7. The fix is usually a known cost.
State figures put a mitigation system at about $1,500 to $2,500, and prices today may run higher. A seller who mitigates before listing, and hands the buyer the results, removes a negotiation point.
Getting ready to sell? Start with the seven-question seller assessment at https://quiz.sellecksellsnj.com/ or request a conversation at https://meet.sellecksellsnj.com
Scott Selleck, REALTOR, Broker Sales Associate | The Selleck Group | Keller Williams City Views Realty | 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 502, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 | Cell 201-970-3960 | Licensed since 1993. This is general information. Consult a state-certified radon professional.
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