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How Radon Gas Enters A Home!
We’ve had reason in recent days to re-investigate the risks of radon gas to our health. We got a lot of help from Elizabeth James, radon maven. [Thanks, Liz!]
The news is not good!
Radon, you will remember, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas—the product of decomposing uranium deep in the earth.
Radioactive?
That can’t be good.
You’re right, it’s not.
According to the U. S. EPA online radon is a very serious threat to our health.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. [emphasis mine, ed.]
It’s everywhere. But, mostly, it’s in your house!
A silent, invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive killer gas is sneaking into my home to give me cancer? R-I-G-H-T!
Sounds like another eco-maniacal greenie off the deep end doesn’t it?
It’s not.
(BTW, our sincerest apology to all ecologically concerned individuals whom we may have just offended. We’re just trying to drive home a point here—not make a political statement. Really.)
And there’s more bad news.
You are at a greater risk of dangerous exposure to this killer stuff here in central Ohio than most other places!
Uh Oh!
This is serious business, and you need to find out more about the risk to you and your family and what you can do about it.
Do it because there are reasonable ways to reduce exposure. Do it because you want to be here for your grandchildren. (Okay, here’s the real reason. Simon says “Do it.”)
The EPA has a free booklet available on line that provide excellent general information. There is an additional free publication that addresses the special concerns of those considering buying or selling a home.
Possibly the best source of good information about radon in the central Ohio area is our new friend Elizabeth
How We Are Exposed To Radon Gas!
James at the Ohio Department of Health. (You were wondering when we were going to get back to her, didn’t you? Thanks for staying with us.)
Call Liz at 800-523-4439 and ask her some questions about this stuff. She’s an expert. Find out how serious this really is…and what you can do about it.
Go ahead call her…she’s really nice.
Tell her we said “Hi”.
You smokers with children. [You know who you are.] Stop smoking now and call Liz. Your risk is like 100 times worse! No kidding. Do it right now.
(This health safety blog story was reproduced from the “Buyershome Journal” blog – July 31, 2007)
Taxes
Franklin County has a great automated monthly prepay system for paying your real estate taxes that will pay you interest. The Franklin County Treasurer will pay the “average Joe” home owner the same interest rate that the Treasurer earns on its multi-million dollar portfolio. This is really a groundbreaking achievement for the Franklin County Treasurer’s office. The Treasurer sought and obtained a change in state law that allowed them to pay interest on monthly tax payments by home owners. Banks are still NOT allowed to pay interest on escrow accounts that collect property tax payments.
The interest rate that you can earn from the Treasurer’s office will be a better rate than most short-term bank accounts (checking, savings or money market accounts). For example, in 2007, the Treasurer’s interest rate fluctuated between 3.5% – 5.5%. Last year, I had a so called “high yield money market account” with an investment company that only earned between 1.75% – 2.25%. I think the Treasurer’s new monthly prepay system for real estate taxes that also pays interest is a first-rate service. Many homeowners in Franklin County are not even aware of this service.
A Franklin County home owner could possibly earn a couple hundred dollars a year. For example, a $265,000 home in Franklin County with yearly real estate taxes of $5,000 a year would have approximately earned $200 – $220 in an interest credit for 2007. The interest that you earn will be credited back against your real estate taxes, to LOWER your taxes! To get more info, you can visit the Franklin County Treasurer web site. The process is very simple and easy to set up. You just have to fill out one simple form.
If you are currently escrowing your real estate taxes with your lender then you will need to check with your lender to see if you are eligible to stop the escrow of real estate taxes. Most lenders will allow you to stop escrowing for real estate taxes if you have 20% – 30% equity. But, every bank has different policies and procedures, so before you do anything make sure you first check with your mortgage lender. You want to make sure you are eligible and there are no fees or costs involved to stop escrowing for your real estate taxes.
As of right now, Franklin County is the only local county in central Ohio that offers this great service. If you have questions, you can contact The Treasurer’s office for more information (614) 462-7515.
I think this is a wonderful service by our Treasurer’s office. A great benefit for being a home owner in Franklin County. You have the “worry free” convenience of automatic monthly payments of your real estate taxes that also pays you a great short term interest rate that you probably can’t get at any bank. And best of all, the Treasurer’s program is FREE. There is no fee or set up charge to join the program.
Shake Down!
Don’t let the “Tax Man” shake you down! Click here for other possible ways to reduce your property taxes and/or save some “greenbacks”!
Last week, The Homebuyer’s Advocate Blog was used as a reference for a good article in the Columbus Dispatch by Jim Woods – Moldy Home Cost Builder $3 Million.
Jim put out a thorough follow up article about the moldy Maronda house and resulting lawsuit that has been in the news for the past few months.
Our very popular blog post (over 500 views) in late February reported on the same Maronda issue – Maronda Home Verdict Cost Nearly $3.2 Million.
I especially liked the way Jim “touched” on the Reynoldsburg Building Department signing off the home.
The house passes all building code requirements, but yet the south side of the house was not attached to the foundation and was inadequately attached on the other three sides. This was hilarious and sad all at the same time.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only person reading this article and saying “hmmm, how does that happen?”
How new homes pass building inspections & get occupancy permits is a mystery to most consumers & home owners.
I think the Columbus Dispatch has the start of whole other investigative exposé
I’ve heard many stories from experienced home inspectors that talk about the same problems and issues with homes passing building inspections.
For example, a home can pass plumbing & electrical inspections but yet have water leaks and no 
working lights. There are two main reasons why these problems sometimes happen with building inspections. First, many building inspectors just check to make sure homes are built to the correct specs, materials, items, hardware, clearances, etc. As long as a home is built to the correct specs and material it could possibly pass a building inspection. The second main reason why bad homes pass building inspections is human error. This happens even in spite of pressurized plumbing checks and other tests on mechanical systems.
I think it is about time to stop beating a dead horse. It is time to move past the issues of some new home builders in Central Ohio, like Maronda and Dominion homes. (Another Builder Casualty) The last few years, their issues have been thoroughly documented in every type of media & press publication. If you are an informed home buyer in Central Ohio then this is all old news.
The key phrase above is “if you are an informed home buyer“. I’ve been an Exclusive (true) Buyer Broker since 1996. I only represent residential and investor buyers. I’m sorry to say that the definition of a truly informed home buyer varies greatly. In most situations, a home buyer will spend only a few minutes researching the home buying process on the Internet sandwiched in between their favorite TV shows, American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. In one short evening a potential home buyer thinks they have thoroughly researched everything they need to know about the home buying process.
The reason this occurs so frequently is because researching on how to find the best representation possible for a home buyer is not fun and feels too much like work. Home Buyers just want to look at beautiful pictures of fabulous homes.
The first and most important decision a home buyer needs to make is who will represent them, NOT which home they buy or what builder to use. An Exclusive Buyer Broker (EBA) is the highest and best representation possible for any home buyer. Would an EBA been able to protect the buyer that purchased the moldy Maronda home. Maybe, yes or no. There are no 100% guarantees in life. A true Buyer Broker (EBA) isn’t always going to be a “Knight in Shining Armor”. But, we are the best base or foundation of having a successful home buying transaction.
My Buyer Broker Advocate! 
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