Radon tests for home sales
Radon comes up in a lot of Fargo-Moorhead home sales. Here's how to test on a deadline and what each state expects.
With radon this common in the Red River Valley, a radon test is a normal part of many inspections. A high number usually leads to a negotiation: the seller installs a system, the buyer gets a credit, or the buyer plans to fix it after closing.
What do Minnesota sellers have to do?
For a Moorhead house, the Minnesota Radon Awareness Act applies to purchase agreements signed on or after January 1, 2014. Before signing, the seller must tell the buyer in writing whether the home has been tested, provide the most recent records, describe any levels found and any mitigation, and describe any system with its paperwork. The seller also gives a radon warning statement and MDH's booklet "Radon in Real Estate Transactions." MDH says testing and mitigation are not required in a sale, though testing is highly recommended.
Is there a North Dakota rule?
ND DEQ's radon materials don't describe a seller disclosure like Minnesota's. For a Fargo, West Fargo or Horace sale, ask your agent what your purchase agreement and inspection contingency say, and treat a radon test as part of your due diligence.
Advice for buyers
- Ask who will run the radon test and what device they'll use.
- If the house already has a system, ask for the installer's paperwork and the last test, and check that the gauge shows suction. In Moorhead, look for the MDH tag.
- If the result is high, talk with your agent about asking for a system, a credit, or a price change.
Advice for sellers
- Test before you list so the inspection doesn't surprise you.
- If you put in a system, keep the installer's paperwork and post-install test in one folder for buyers.
- A system with a passing follow-up test usually takes radon off the negotiating table.
How does a sale test work?
A professional usually sets a continuous monitor for at least two days under closed-house conditions. Opening windows, running exhaust fans or moving the monitor can skew the reading, and many monitors flag tampering. Keep the house shut and leave the device alone.
What if the clock is tight?
Give the radon company your inspection deadline and closing date when you call, so the test, any system and the follow-up test can be scheduled to fit.
We don't quote prices. The radon company prices the job after it learns your foundation type and, in most cases, looks at the house. Treat any number you hear before that as a ballpark, not a bid.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Who pays for a radon system when a house sells?
It's negotiated. Sellers often install a system or offer a credit after a high test. Your agent can help.
Must Moorhead sellers test for radon?
No. The Minnesota Radon Awareness Act requires disclosure of what the seller knows, not a test or a system.
Related services
More background: Fargo-Moorhead radon guide.
Got a radon number you don't like?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a radon company that works in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.