Toxic Talk was the title of the Salem Association of Realtor’s Educational Event yesterday.
I wanted to give everyone a quick review of the information that I learned:
Radon: It will kill you. Any home might have an issue. It comes out of the ground and even with a well ventilated crawlspace your home can concentrate this poisonous, radioactive gas.
Moral: Get your home tested
Arsenic in Water: It will kill you. Wells will be required to be tested for it during a real estate transaction. If you have it and install a filter CHANGE YOUR FILTER carefully and regularly.
Moral: Get your water tested
Disaster Clean-up: It will kill you. (see a pattern developing?) Rodent urine and feces is a toxic bio hazard
Moral: Hopefully you won’t have to call these guys EVER!
Lead: It will kill you. (yup, believe it or not) Soon Oregon is going to have some changes that require certifications of ANYONE dealing with repairs of older homes and mandatory lead testing of all of these homes!
Moral: Whether you like it or not your home will be tested…..
Mold: (everyone now!) It will kill you. Mold is EVERYWHERE and it is not necessarily the issue but an indicator of moisture conditions that are a problem
Moral: Get your home tested.
Crawlspace/basement leakage: This will probably kill you too but I think the moisture just causes stuff that will kill you…. Crawlspaces and basements are swimming pools and although there are ways to minimize the water intrusion, they are not required by code.
Moral: Pay a good Home Inspector to check out your crawlspace BEFORE you sell!
Jim Allhiser President/Inspector
http://SalemOregonHomeInspections.com
503.508.4321 jallhiser@perfectioninspectioninc.com
Salemoregonhomeinspector's Blog 
Thanks Jim for the update! I missed that meeting. Good information for sellers to be aware of. There will be more and more testing happening. I just had a sale with a well and the arsenic was an added test that was required, so that one is already in effect.
I might also add that it is good information for buyers to have also. We have a form at the office that all of our buyers sign that recommends many of these tests.
I was at the meeting too and I’m just glad I know a good inspector for these tests. I see you even provided a link to their page in your blog. 😉 This is serious stuff and should not be ignored, especially since many of these issues can have serious financial ramifications if not discovered in time.
Victoria,
I was in a bit of a rush when I wrote this post and I was hoping my readers (you specifically) would provide the links. Nobody told me I had to post informative AND useful information!!
what is the regulation scenario like for home and property inspectors in your neck of the woods? What did you relate to re: our post..