Do you wonder how to spot the hidden dangers in your house?
Your home is perceived as a haven where you can escape from the threats and risks of navigating the world. However, hidden dangers could lurk in a house that severely threatens you and your family.
Along with negatively affecting your health, these threats can also hurt your wallet if you need to pay to remediate them. Hiring a trusted real estate agent to help you buy a home is essential.
An experienced Realtor can help you find quality properties and walk you through the safety inspection process.
If you prepare to enter the real estate market, know what threats to look out for. We will review eight common dangers in a home that aren’t immediately obvious but can pose a serious risk to you and your family.
Avoiding these house dangers will be paramount. When buying a house, ensure they are part of your home inspection checklist. An exceptional home inspector will be able to help assess these potential issues.
Asbestos is Dangerous
Asbestos is one of the most well-known home hazards, but few people know what it is or how to test for it. It was commonly installed in homes built between the 1940s and 1970s to insulate homes and prevent them from catching fire. It is an incredibly effective material but can cause lung disease when inhaled.
Even if your home falls outside the 40s through 70s building range, you can still hire an expert to test for asbestos. These professionals can identify the material and develop a process to remove it.
Once the asbestos is gone, you can replace it with modern insulation to keep your energy bills down while protecting your family.
Lead Paint is Poisonous
Like asbestos, lead paint was another miracle product we now associate with house dangers. An impressive 87% of homes built before 1940 have some lead-based paint, while 24% of homes built between 1940 and 1978 have lead in them. If your home is older than 1978, you should assume it contains some lead-based paint.
To test your paint, hire a professional to take samples from your home or order test kits yourself. If found, you must remove the old paint and find an alternative option to paint your house.
This is one of the most challenging dangers in a house because most adults with lead poisoning don’t exhibit symptoms. However, exposure can limit fertility, cause digestive problems, lead to chronic headaches, and severely inhibit physical and mental development in children if left unchecked.
Potential home buyers with children under six should understand the lead paint law when buying older homes. Without addressing the issue, it could become a deadly house danger.
Pro tip: Without lead paint testing, it is impossible to know if it’s present.
Radon is a Health Danger in Your Home
The CDC defines radon as “an odorless, invisible, radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water.” If left untreated, radon can seep into a home over time and cause lung cancer at high levels.
Most people don’t think about radon dangers in a home, but this is just as serious as any other toxic gas you might encounter. You should test a home’s radon levels before buying it or if you have never done a radon test before.
If your home has high radon levels, you can install a radon mitigation system that reduces the amount of radioactivity in your space. You can also increase the amount of airflow and ventilation in your home.
Many people don’t realize that radon can also be found in water. If you’re buying a home with a well, it will be essential to test it. Well-water inspection costs are reasonable, especially considering it impacts your health.
If you discover elevated radon levels in your water, there are a couple of removal methods.
Mold is a Hidden Danger in a Home
Mold is a form of fungus that typically grows in damp environments. If you have water in your walls or a leak in your home, mold could form without you realizing it.
The CDC highlights several adverse health effects of breathing in mold spores, ranging from developing a chronic cough to severe allergic reactions and lung infections.
If not addressed, your mold symptoms can worsen, and the fungus can grow wildly in your home.
The easiest way to identify mold is through its smell. If a home smells damp or like mildew, mold could be present. You can also hire an expert mold assessor who will take air, water, and surface samples to test for mold. They can also recommend a mitigation plan.
The good news is that mold prevention is usually straightforward. Avoid leaks and pools of water anywhere in your home. If there is water where there shouldn’t be, you have a problem.
When selling a home with black mold, it should be mitigated before listing. Mold is a significant house danger that can cause buyers to withdraw from the sale.
From experience as a Realtor, those with upper respiratory issues will not care if you agree to mitigate. It will already be too late.
Hidden Water Leaks Are Destructive
Some safety hazards in a home can cause multiple problems if they are left unaddressed. For example, a water leak (even a small drip over time) can cause mold growth, making breathing dangerous in your home.
Water leaks can also drive utility bills and wear out walls and ceilings. In a worst-case scenario, you might wake up one morning to discover part of your ceiling has collapsed, leaving your living space dirty and wet.
Your home inspector should check for water leaks when looking at your house. However, you can also inspect the space. Try to smell mold or mildew, which indicates pooling water. You can also look for water stains, peeling wallpaper, or warped flooring, warning signs of leaks.
Pest Problems Can Grow Worse
Pest problems come in all shapes and sizes, from termites that eat into your walls to cockroaches and ants that crawl into your food. Pests also include rodents, like rats and mice, which can scurry around your home at night.
Not only are these animals gross, but they can significantly harm your health. They spread disease and bacteria through your home and can contaminate your food. Pest infestations can also worsen asthma and allergy symptoms because of the toxic air they create.
You might consider hiring a specific termite inspector to look at your home before you buy it. Scheduling regular pest appointments to identify signs of insects or vermin in your home is wise.
You must bring in an exterminator if you notice unusual smells or noises, droppings in various places, rotted wood, or graw marks.
Electrical Hazards Can Cause Problems
Unlike the other home hazards on this list, it only takes one encounter with an unsafe electrical connection to injure or kill your family members severely. Outdated or poor wiring can cause electrocution or lead to fires in your home. Water leaks can also impact your electrical wiring and create dangerous situations.
Your home inspector will spend significant time on your electrical wiring to ensure safety. If there are severe problems, your mortgage lender and home insurance provider might not be willing to help you move forward with purchasing your home.
Rewiring a home can cost between $10,000 to $30,000 but is often considered worth it to keep everyone who lives there safe. Electrical house dangers could electrocute you or cause a fire, leading to death or injury.Click To TweetNeglected Appliances Can Be Dangerous
Old appliances can also create dangers in a home. Poor wiring can create electrical hazards and potentially spark fires. Water-focused appliances can leak (creating mold) or cause flooding in your home. If your water heater bursts, you could have gallons of water across your living area.
Ensure your inspector looks at your appliances carefully – especially if they have gas connections. Poorly maintained units can have gas leaks, which are health and fire risks. If your machines are over a decade old, you might want to replace them for your safety and to enjoy the benefits of modern, more energy-efficient models.
Take an Objective View of Your Home Hazards
It’s natural to fall in love with a property and only see the good parts of a home. However, being objective when considering any house’s safety risks and concerns would be best. Walk around and try to smell mildew or look for signs of water. Check for signs of rodents. Inspect the home for lead paint.
When in doubt, ask your Realtor about the history of the house and the potential risks that come with it.
Once you prove that a house is safe and in good condition, you can relax and enjoy your new home.
Always Hire Professionals When Addressing House Dangers
When addressing dangers in a house, hiring professionals with the expertise and experience to handle the situation effectively is of utmost importance.
While some homeowners may be tempted to tackle these issues themselves to save money, it is crucial to recognize the potential risks and long-term consequences that can arise from amateur attempts.
One of the main reasons to hire professionals is their specialized knowledge in identifying and mitigating potential dangers. Professionals such as electricians, plumbers, or pest control experts have undergone extensive training and certifications in their respective fields. They have the necessary skills and understanding to assess the situation and provide appropriate solutions accurately. Attempting to address dangers without proper knowledge can worsen the problem and put individuals at risk.
Additionally, professionals possess the right tools and equipment to handle hazardous situations safely. For instance, electrical issues can pose significant dangers if not handled correctly. Professional electricians have the expertise to identify faulty wiring or potential fire hazards and can implement the necessary repairs or upgrades.
Similarly, pest control professionals have the proper tools and pesticides to eliminate infestations effectively without causing harm to residents or the environment.
You’ll Save Time and Money Removing Dangers in Your House
Furthermore, hiring professionals can save homeowners time and money in the long run. While it may seem cost-effective to handle issues independently, improper repairs or temporary fixes can lead to recurring problems. This can result in additional expenses when the underlying issue resurfaces.
By hiring professionals, homeowners can ensure that the problem is addressed comprehensively, reducing the likelihood of future complications.
Ultimately, the safety and well-being of a household should always take precedence. Hiring professionals to address a house’s dangers ensures that the problem is resolved effectively and minimizes the risks associated with DIY attempts. Their expertise, specialized knowledge, and access to the right tools make them the best choice when handling potentially hazardous situations.
Final Thoughts on House Dangers
Never take issues found in your home lightly. It is essential not to let minor problems become larger ones. Adequately addressing any dangers in your home quickly will ensure your family’s safety.
These are the issues that should be fixed when selling a home. Don’t add to a buyer’s worries by leaving them with your problems.
About the Author: The above Real Estate information on house dangers was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill has expertise in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.
Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications he has been featured in. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns for the last 37+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
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