House Hunting? Read this First

House Hunting? Read this First! Before making an offer on a home, the smart house hunter will engage an environmental and pest specialist to perform an additional inspection, looking for some very specific hazards PESTS: Most pest inspections focus on wood-destroying insects such as carpenter ants and termites, but rodents can be just as damaging. Rodent waste carries dangerous bacteria and viruses. Common areas of infestation are basements, ceilings and garages. MOLD: Attics require more than just a glimpse with a flashlight. A good inspector will actually climb in and perform a thorough check. Basements, too, should be checked throughout for mold or water damage, as they're the area most likely to experience water infiltration. RADON: Most inspectors test for radon. If yours tries tells you that you don't need to because of the location of the property, ignore them. While radon is less likely in some areas, is not specific to any area and can literally be present anywhere. ASBESTOS: If the house was built prior to 1972, there may be asbestos in the house. It was commonly used in floor tile, ceiling tile, siding, plaster, pipe wrap, duct seam tape, transit piping, and vermiculite. While asbestos is only a issue if the fibers become airborne, having a professional tell you where it is and the condition of the material is crucial to maintaining your family's safety. LEAD-BASED PAINT: Lead-based paint may be a problem if the house was built prior to 1978. Common areas were on the exterior, windows, and doors. Most people are concerned with exposure to lead in infants-and rightly so. But adults can also experience problems if they inhale dust from lead-based paint. Again, the only way to ensure your family's health is to get an inspection and know what you're dealing with. EnviroTech ervironmental services www.NaturallyTheBest.com Piktochart -I make information beautiful