Radon gas can pose a serious threat to your health, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to check for problems.
Q-I have heard a lot about radon gas over the past few years, and how some homeowners are at risk because of its presence. But I really don’t know what radon is, or how it can get into my home. Will you explain?
A-Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that’s produced by the decay of uranium in soil. It usually enters a house by rising up through tiny cracks in the floor, but can also be transported by water drawn from a well. The federal government estimates that about one in every 15 homes across the country has potentially dangerous levels of radon, which can cause lung cancer.
Most hardware and home-improvement stores sell radon detectors for $15 to $50 that can help you determine whether your home has a serious problem. You also could hire a professional radon-tester, but you should make sure that he or she is certified by either the state or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Beware of bogus testers: Some fast-buck operators have been sent to jail for using unscientific testing methods and then charging consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars for unnecessary repairs.
The EPA recently published a free booklet, “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon.” You can order it by writing to the EPA Public Information Center, 401 M St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Or you can call the agency’s toll-free “radon hotline” at (800) 767-7236.
Q-My husband and I are remodeling our home and want to follow your advice that we have our contractor put everything in writing, but our lawyer says it would cost about $900 for him to write up the contract. If there are preprinted forms available, could you tell us where to find them?
A-Preprinted contracts for standard contracting jobs are available at most stationery stores and business-supply outlets. They usually cost about $5.
If you use a preprinted contract, you should attach a typewritten addendum that spells out the specifics of the job. Make sure that you and the contractor sign and date both the contract and the addendum.
If your remodeling project will cost more than a few thousand dollars, you should have your lawyer review the documents before you ask the contractor to sign them. The review might cost $100 or so, but it will be money well spent if it helps you avoid trouble after work gets under way.
Q-My husband and I are looking for our first home. We have a son who is 5 years old, and another baby on the way. Since our kids will have to attend public schools, can you please tell me how I can determine the quality of the schools in the areas that we are visiting?
A-I would start by contacting the headquarters of each school district in the neighborhoods where you’re shopping for a house and then contact the agency that oversees the educational system in your state. They should be able to provide results from state-standardized tests that students must take each year, which should give you a good idea of whether local teachers are doing a good job of educating their students.
Once you have narrowed your list to three or four communities, contact each school in the area and ask for an appointment with the principal. Also try to chat with some of the teachers. Ask the teachers whether students’ test scores are rising or falling, if the students are raucous or well-behaved, and whether the district is in good financial shape or struggling to stay alive.
Finally, ask for a tour of the campus: It’s a good sign if you see and handsome grounds. But graffiti-covered walls and other signs of neglect should set off warning bells.
