In today’s real estate market, most buyers and sellers have at least heard of radon. But understanding what it is and how it affects a home transaction is a different story.
Here’s what you need to know about radon in Nashville, why it matters for both health and home value, and how it can be handled smoothly during the buying or selling process.
What Is Radon—and Why Should You Care?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps up from the soil and into homes, often through cracks in foundations, basements, or crawlspaces. It’s odorless, colorless, and invisible, which means the only way to know if it’s present is to test for it.
Health Risk Alert:
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, according to the EPA. Long-term exposure to high radon levels in your home can pose serious health risks to you and your family.
And here in Middle Tennessee, elevated radon levels are common across the region, including throughout Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties.
Why Buyers Should Always Test for Radon
If you’re buying a home in Nashville or the surrounding area, radon testing is a simple but crucial step in your inspection process. You’ll want to know:
- Are the levels safe?
- Will I need a mitigation system?
- Can I negotiate this before closing?
Radon is not a deal-breaker, but it is a negotiation point, and one you want to discover early, not after moving in.
Why Sellers Should Test Before Listing
Homeowners looking to sell have just as much incentive to test for radon. If elevated levels are found during the buyer’s inspection, you could be on the hook for installing a mitigation system, which could delay your closing or reduce your leverage.
By testing in advance:
- You gain control over the timeline
- You can address the issue proactively
- You show buyers that your home is safe and well-maintained
Mitigation systems can often be installed easily and they eliminate the issue as a future concern for your buyer.
How Radon Mitigation Works
If your home has elevated radon levels (4.0 pCi/L or higher), the solution is straightforward: install a radon mitigation system.
Think of it as a permanent vacuum that pulls radon gas from beneath your home (under the slab, basement, or crawlspace) and vents it safely above the roofline.
These systems:
- Run continuously and quietly
- Require little maintenance
- Can reduce radon levels by over 90%
- Are installed daily in homes across Nashville
Radon is Manageable (and Negotiable!)
Don’t let radon scare you. It’s common, it’s testable, and it’s treatable.
For buyers, testing gives you clarity and peace of mind. For sellers, early detection helps protect your sale and your bottom line.
At DILIGENT, we offer professional radon testing alongside our home inspections throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. We also partner with trusted mitigation experts to guide you through the next steps if elevated levels are found.
Experience the DILIGENT Difference
With DILIGENT, you can understand the value of your potential home investment by skipping the guesswork and gathering deeper information about your new home with our detailed reports provided the same day as your inspection.
