Why does it matter?

Generally, when people buy houses, they can see the colors, the fixtures, the layout, the room size and other important features. Then during the escrow process people have contractors check plumbing, electrical, roof, and other important features. What is notably missing is information about toxic residue.

A buyer should want to know what toxic residue remains on a property, how difficult it is to get out, or what toxic residue problems may be likely to arise.

SaferBuilding™ Environmental Disclosure Forms help buyers to understand and effectively manage their purchase.

Does if affect the price?

Our experience says "Yes".

If a non-smoker walked into a house which smelled of smoke and a similar house with no such residue, then surely the smoke-free house would be more valuable to him or her. Smoke residue is among the issues noted in a SaferBuilding™ Environmental Disclosure Forms. Unlike smoke residue which has an odor, many toxins do not have a detectable odor even though they have the potential to cause a lot of harm. For the possibility of those residues, it is important to use SaferBuilding™ Environmental Disclosures before you move in.

If in two identical properties, someone sprayed pesticides whenever they saw ants; but in a second property, the homeowner had taken the time to caulk (with a non-toxic caulk or perhaps used boric acid, then it is likely that the latter property would have less toxic residue. One would expect increased value would be obvious if the buyers knew that fewer toxins had been used. In fact, SaferBuilding™ certified properties have seen increased values of 7% to 10%.

By using the SaferBuilding™ Certifications, sellers have an easy way to note absence of toxic residue and have the prospect of claiming increased property value.

Why not simply just tell them?

Environmental residue is complicated issue. Even with the hundred or so questions in the SaferBuilding™ Disclosure Forms, there are still hundreds more that might be asked, such as would a house with an attached garage allow more fumes to enter the house than a detached garage? Of course, there are advantages of having an attached garage.

Does it matter if buyers don't care about toxic residue?

Perhaps. A buyer can't tell if a floor is veneer, engineered, or solid. Even if you don't care at the time or purchase, you will likely care when you need to refinish the floor ten years down the road.

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