Major Items

Lead-Based Paint

The seller of a house built prior to 1978 must complete a Lead-Based Paint Disclosure that asks if seller is aware of any lead-based paint on the property or any reports that were ever issued about lead-based paint on the property. The buyer of a home built prior to 1978 must receive the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, signed by seller, and have the right to inspect for lead-based paint during the inspection of the property.

Radon

The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that 4.0 pico curies/litre of air-borne radon is the maximum safe level in a home. As part of the inspection process, buyer is allowed to test the air inside the home and seller is usually responsible for "mitigating" or reducing the radon level if the test determines a radon reading of over 4.0 pc/l.

Wells and Septic Tanks

Both buyer and buyer's lender are usually interested in obtaining reports indicating that the well and septic systems are operating satisfactorily. Seller usually pays to have the septic tank pumped clean and buyer generally pays for the tests, including well yield, water potability and septic inspection.

Title Examination

While the title exam in most metropolitan areas is usually routine, it is an important and sometimes challenging part of buying and selling mountain property. Driveways that encroach on neighbors' lots, utility easements that run through the middle of homes and lack of legal access to a county or state road are examples of thorny issues that the rural home buyer and home sellers must be vigilant in looking for.