A home is your safe space. One that you rely on after having a hectic day. One that comforts you, no matter what. But what if we tell you that in this comfort lies a silent threat? Something that has been there for decades and might still be unnoticed? Yes, such threats exist, and you might still be unaware of them. Lead is one of the prime examples.
When we talk about lead, the image you picture in your head is from decades before. Lead poisoning used to be a major concern back then. While, to your surprise, it still is. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 38 million homes in the United States experience the threat of lead. This poses a grave risk to the health and well-being of you and your loved ones, particularly children and pregnant women.
To handle the issue smartly, you need to play smarter. The very first step you shall take is scheduling lead inspections. However, most homeowners or homebuyers seem to waive these inspections. It’s too early to pass any concluding remarks on their choice, but we shall discuss it in detail in this blog.
This blog will discuss lead-based paint inspections and waivers.
Let’s first discuss the importance of lead inspection (especially when buying a house).
The Importance of Lead Inspections
It won’t be unfair to call lead inspections the Iron Man from the Avengers for your home. Except that there won’t be any “sacrifices” made here. But these inspections are the most important way to safeguard not just your (and your loved ones) health…but also the property’s condition.
These are the first line of defense against lead, offering invaluable insights into its presence and extent. During these inspections, it becomes easier to identify areas with lead-based materials.
Now, this part is interesting. Where do you expect lead to be mostly present? Appliances? You’re somewhat correct, but it is mostly used in lead-based paint or pipes. This is where these inspections draw their major focus, enabling proactive measures, mitigating risks, and preventing exposure.
We mentioned that your situation is more critical if you have pregnant women or children living with you. So, how do these inspections help in this regard? Lead inspections “lead” to early detection and intervention for mitigating the long-term consequences of lead exposure.
It’s fair to say that lead inspections contribute to your home’s overall safety and habitability. It provides you with peace of mind. Of course, when you’re free of worrying about what (issue) might be coming your way, you’ll have a good night’s sleep.
So, by investing in lead inspections, you can take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of your family. While it will also help in fulfilling your duty to maintain a safe and healthy living space.
Now, let’s discuss the waivers.
What If You Decide to Waive Lead Inspections?
Homeowners often understand the importance of lead inspections, but they still decide to waive these. For example, in December 2020, more than 30% of successful offers in certain areas had waived home inspections (including lead inspections). This was more than double the number from the previous year.
They have reasons like cost concerns, time concerns, and assumptions about safety, or they might want to rely on previous inspections. If you’re deciding something like this, you need to be considerate as it can have significant implications for the health and safety of the occupants. Also it can also lead to legal and financial concerns.
Below, we discuss some considerations you should consider if you choose to waive lead inspections.
(Note the emphasis is on choosing as it is entirely your choice).
Health Risks
Waiving lead inspections is equal to giving up on the opportunity to identify and mitigate potential lead hazards within your home. So, if you decide to go with this decision, you shall also be ready for an increased risk of lead exposure.
Legal Requirements
In the United States, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Maryland are a few of the states that mandate lead inspections for residential properties. So, depending on the local regulations and the property’s age, you might need to inspect your property for lead. This is especially important for homes built before 1978. Waiving lead inspections might result in fines or legal consequences.
Liability
If you choose to waive the lead inspections, you need to be ready to assume liability for any lead hazards in your home. If you reside with children, then you need to be extremely careful as they’re more vulnerable to suffering lead poisoning. Furthermore, you can also face financial liabilities like medical expenses and damages.
Resale and Rental Considerations
Many homeowners plan on selling their property. But let us tell you that if you wish to sell your property, skipping lead inspections can affect your property’s marketability and resale value. This is because, usually, potential buyers choose to conduct a lead paint inspection when buying a house. So, if they find any issues, it might draw them away from the deal. While some might not want to buy a property with unknown lead hazards. With these inspections in place, you can provide your buyers transparency and peace of mind, which will help gain their trust and secure the deal.
Long-Term Costs
Often, homeowners mistake waiving lead inspections as having the ball in their court financially. Yes, it might seem like a cost-saving measure in the short term. However, long-term costs associated with addressing lead hazards can outweigh the initial savings. Thus, investing in lead inspections and mitigation is a proactive measure to prevent costly issues and legal consequences.
Conclusion
Inspecting your home for lead is one of the ways you can act considerate towards your property and your loved ones. There can be various sources of lead, such as paint, plumbing pipes, appliances, etc. However, there is only one way to handle the issues and threats that come from these – lead inspections.
You might be thinking of skipping these for now. But remember that it’s now or never. You might miss identifying major health risks when you decide to waive lead paint inspections. So, it’s better to put your and your family’s health first rather than saving a few hundred dollars.
The best way to get the best return on your investment is by scheduling a lead inspection with a proven and experienced service provider. Pro-Spect is the best example of this. Our professional lead inspectors inspect your property as a whole, finding lead issues that might have adverse health consequences.
