Radon, What is it?
Radon is a radioactive gas originating from naturally occurring uranium in the ground. As uranium decays it emits radon gas into the atmosphere and in your home levels can sometimes build up to the point where the EPA recommends mitigation. No level of radon is considered totally safe but if the concentration gets to 4 picocuries per liter or greater it’s time to have a mitigation system installed. Every deal is different, but this is something we typically ask the seller to pay for during the inspection phase. This usually costs about 1000.00 and takes a day to install. It’s a very simple system but effective – I’ve never seen a case where a home could not be mitigated below the EPA action level. It consists of a 3 inch pvc pipe that is installed below the slab surface and runs up above the roof line. A fan is installed on this pipe that creates a suction under the slab pulling the radon out rather than it making its way into the home. Feel free to reach out with any home ownership questions that come to mind!
Cracked Chimney Crown: A Hidden Source of Water Entry
The crown is a thin layer of cement that seals the top of the chimney to the flue. It is poured with a slope so water will roll off instead of just sitting. Because it is thin, it tends to crack over time. A cracked or deteriorated chimney crown can allow water inside the chimney. It often goes unnoticed for a long period of time simply because we generally never get to see the top of our chimney. The freeze/thaw cycles here in Dayton Ohio contribute to broken and spalling bricks. Left unchecked water can eventually make its way into the framing of the home and create mold and rot framing members. We often find damaged crowns during our real estate inspections. If there are minor cracks and chips the repair is typically just using a high quality caulk to seal things up. If the damage is more extensive then a brick mason can chip off the old crown and pour a new one. Costs range widely depending mostly on how difficult it is to reach the crown. Typically, you are looking at $500.00 or more for this repair. Interested in learning more, just reach out!
Dayton Housing Stats Aug 2023
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Dayton housing market this update is not going to be anything new. The low inventory trend continues with closings being down 14.31 percent from this time last year. Average sale price is up nearly 6%. Why? The higher rates have knocked some buyers out of the market. But that’s only part of the problem. A lot of sellers want to sell but fear they won’t be able to find a replacement home. These are the two main factors affecting the low inventory. With low inventory comes higher prices, thus the higher average sale price. Being a long time Dayton OH Realtor I’ve seen these swings before in my 30 year career. The market is always changing. If you’d like to learn more just reach out and I’ll share what I know.
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