Recommending a Radon Test (or Not) No man Realtor can serve two masters.” –New Testament (slightly changed). [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Regular readers will...Read More
Marketing Theory: Absence of a Negative = a Positive Although Minnesota has been ramping up its radon disclosure requirements for several years now, it wasn’t until last week that I actually saw a (new) radon remediation system touted in an MLS listing. I think there’s a good reason for that — “that” being no other...Read More
What Radon and Polygraph Tests Have in Common If your furnace goes out in January in Minnesota . . . it’s a pretty high priority repair. Ditto for a central a/c compressor that decides to konk out in July. Fortunately, there’s a perfectly good, temporary solution for basements that are discovered — sometimes in the...Read More
Need a Contractor? Take a Number If you’re a Twin Cities homeowner trying to remodel a Bath, re-paint the Amusement Room, or even deal with a plumbing emergency, you doubtless already know: local contractors are in scarce supply. So, which trade/specialty has the longest backlog right now? My nominee is radon remediation contractors. Thanks to beefed-up...Read More
Star Trib: ‘More Than 40% of Minnesota Homes That Tested for Radon Had Elevated Levels’ “Finding elevated levels of radon is becoming less of a surprise, but it’s still generally a surprise. ‘Can’t see it, can’t smell it, can’t taste it.'” –Pat Brennan, radon remediation contractor; “State is a Radon Hotbed” (Star Tribune 2/10/2013). Not...Read More
Cost-Benefit Analysis What is the best predictor that a home will have elevated radon levels? (in the Twin Cities, the threshold for remediation is above 4.0 PicoLiters per million parts). One or more other homes on the block have elevated radon levels. One of the benefits of being a more experienced Realtor is, having done...Read More
