Buying a new home can be somewhat stressful especially when it comes to making sure you get everything on your list. And knowing the full history of your future home usually makes things so much easier. Unsurprisingly, there are homeowners who purposely leave out crucial details that would obviously deter potential buyers. And the worst part of it all: they often aren’t legally obligated to do so! Here are some of the scary things that homeowners don’t need to tell you.
- Narcotics
Breaking Bad fans know how easy it is to set up certain kinds of illegal labs in your home. But can you believe that only half of the states in the United States force homeowners to disclose whether or not their property used to be a lab? What’s worse is that the act often results in deadly chemical byproducts, many which are known to cause a long list of health issues. Decontamination methods aren’t always 100% and there could still be traces of these chemicals hiding in the nooks and crannies of your home. Luckily, there are tests that can be done to put your fears and worries at ease.
- Radon
Radon is an extremely dangerous gas that’s the result of the breakdown of natural radium found in the soil. In small quantities, it’s harmless. But radon can build up over time, especially in the foundations of homes and basements. This can lead to serious health issues such as cancer. Despite the known data surrounding radon, only 37 states require homeowners to test their homes for radon and disclose their status to sellers. If your state isn’t one of them, then you’ll have to take matters into your own hands and get your home tested.
- Asbestos
Asbestos is a known carcinogenic that is found in many homes specifically in the insulation and piping. Given the long list of adverse side effects associated with asbestos, you’d think that many people would do the right thing and give sellers a heads up. But there are many greedy and desperate people out there who willfully look the other way. To make matters worse, many state laws don’t go out their way to make homeowners get rid of the toxic material. Asbestos is especially dangerous when airborne, so you should probably get your home tested before doing any sort of renovations.
- Death
You don’t have to be superstitious to be turned off by a home where someone died. Home sellers are aware of this and some are usually hesitant to make this known. A couple of states side with those sellers, believing that disclosing this information could cause an unfair stigma against them. But this only applies to more peaceful deaths. Serious crimes such as violent murder obviously needs to mentioned. A quick google search of the address will let you know if your potenital home will let you know if someone was brutally murdered there.
- Lead-Based Paint
Lead paint is right up there along with asbestos as one of many toxic things that could be lurking in your home. It’s so dangerous that the government ruled that any home built before 1978 needs to disclose the possible use of lead paint. Very few people know the full history of their home and some are completely unaware that there could be lead paint underneath the recent coating. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that homes before 1978 could have leftover lead paint regardless of what the owner said. It may be in your best interest to have your walls and furniture tested.
