Environmental Issues in Real Estate Real Estate Exam Questions Included

in this video we'll discuss the important environmental factors that the students of real estate should keep in mind for their exams understanding the environmental issues affecting properties is essential let's begin with lead based paint when real estate agent puts house on the market that was built prior to 1978 lead base paint disclosure form needs to be signed by the homeowner acknowledging whether or not they are aware of lead in their home it's important to be aware of the presence of lead based paint especially in properties constructed before 1978 when it was commonly used this type of pain can pose health risks if not dealt with correctly fortunately lead-based pain can be safely removed through professional remediation processes ensuring safer environment for occupants lead paint removal involves series of careful steps to ensure Safety First an assessment identifies areas with lead based paint then the workspace is prepared often with plastic sheeting and ventilation systems to contain dust various methods like scraping or sanding are used for paint removal with heap of vacuums to capture dust cleanup involves wet methods to prevent Airborne particles and all wastes that disposed of according to regulations finally post- removal verification ensures safety standards are met professional remediation companies are often employed for their expertise in this process it's worthy of noting for the real estate exam lead has been utilized in plumbing for many years despite early concerns about the taste and safety of lead infused water its continued use persisted through the 19th and early 20th centuries owing its durability and ease of installation in the United States the decline of lead Plumbing began in the 1920s with the adoption of alternative materials like copper and galvanized steel however the Persistence of lead containing materials in older buildings and homes poses ongoing risks of lead contamination and drinking water despite regulatory efforts such as the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 addressing lead contamination remains significant concern particularly in outdated infrastructure next up raon so radon is this radioactive gas that comes from rocks especially if they have uranium or Thorium in them it's pretty sneaky because it can slip into your house through cracks in the foundation floors or walls if you live in an area with lots of rock you need to keep an eye out for Radon but don't worry there are ways to deal with it first off how do you know if ridon is hanging out in your home well you can't see it or smell it which makes it tricky but there are detectors you can get that'll sniff it out for you these detectors are like radon Detectives they'll tell you if there's too much radon in your house now what do you do if you find out you've got radon well don't panic you can seal up those cracks in the floors and walls to keep radon from sneaking in another option is to install something called radon mitigation system this system sucks the radon gas out from under your house and blows it outside so it doesn't build up indoors next up asbest let's talk about asbest asbest is mineral that was used in buildings for long time because it's strong and fire resistant it's kind of like tiny fibers that can't be seen with the naked eye sometimes you might find it in older homes in things like insulation ceiling tiles or pipe covering but here's the thing asbestos can be really bad for your health if you breathe it in so how do you know if there's asbestos in your home well you can't really tell just by looking at it if your house was built before the 1980s there's chance it might have asbestos in it if you're not sure it's best to get professional to check it out if they find asbestos don't worry it can be removed safely Specialists can carefully get rid of it without releasing those harmful fibers into the air it's important to handle asbestos removal with caution because breathing in those fibers can cause serious health problems like lung cancer or mesothelioma quick side note what now takes the place of asbestos fiberglass fiberglass the safe alternative to asbestos up next Termites Termites in New York state these little critters might be tiny but they can cause big problems especially for houses made of wood termites love to munch on wood and they can Chomp away at your home structure causing serious damage so how do you know if you've got termites well one sign is seeing tiny holes or tunnels in your wood furniture or walls sometimes you might even hear them munching away if you listen closely if you suspect termites it's best to call in the experts to check it out and here's something important if you're buying or selling house in New York state there's usually rule that says you have to get termite inspection before the sale goes through who pays for it well typically the seller covers the cost of the inspection but it can vary depending on the terms of the sale either way it's an important step to make sure there are no hidden termite surprises lurking in the walls okay the next up mold let's chat about why real estate agents need to be on the lookout for mold mold can be sneaky problem in homes and it's important for agents to spot it and let potential buyers know mold comes in different colors like black green or pink and it can look fuzzy or slimy sometimes you might even notice musty smell in the house which could be sign of mold hiding somewhere now why is this so crucial well mold can cause health issues like allergies or breathing problems and nobody wants to move into house that might make them sick now if mold is spotted what could be done about it well if it's just small patch it can often be cleaned up with soap and water but if the mold is more widespread or hidden in hard-to-reach places like behind walls or under carpets it's best to call in professionals these experts have the right tools and knowledge to safely remove mold and prevent it from coming back so by pointing out mold and helping buyers understand how to deal with it real estate agents play crucial role in ensuring that homes are safe and healthy for their new owners the next up chlorofluorocarbons cfc's are synthetic compounds once widely used in products like refrigerants and aerosol propellants however their release into the atmosphere has led to the depletion of the Earth's ozone layer when cfc's reach the stratosphere they break down under UV radiation releasing chlorine triggering ozone molecule breakdown fitting the ozone layer the depletion has serious health and environmental impacts more UV radiation reaches the Earth's surface increasing risks of skin cancer cataracts and other adverse health effects to tackle this governments regulate cfc's under acts like the Clean Air Act in the United States which by the way pops up all the time on the state exam the next up polychlorinated by fenals or pcbs are man-made chemicals jued and electrical equipment like Transformers and capacitors due to their insulation properties despite being banned in the late 1970s pcbs persist in Old equipment and buildings when these materials deteriorate pcbs can leak into the environment posing health risks such as cancer and immune system problems proper handling and disposal of PCB containing equipment are crucial to prevent further harm to human health and the environment the next upop underground storage tanks underground storage tanks are regulated especially when they're big like 1,00 gallons or more these tanks are used to store things like gasoline diesel or other chemicals now the reason they're regulated is because if they're not built or maintained properly they can leak harmful substances into the soil and groundwater this can cause serious environmental problems and even contaminate drinking water sources so by regulating these larger tanks governments aim to make sure they're installed operated and maintained safely to protect both the environment and public health the next up sick building syndrome SBS is problem that can happen when people spend lot of time in certain buildings and they start feeling sick or uncomfortable but there's no clear cause some common symptoms of SPS include headaches dizziness nausea fatigue and the irritation of the Eyes Nose and Throat basically if you feel crummy when you're in particular building but you feel better when you leave you might be experiencing SP SPS okay on to the Q&A part of this video question number one lead based paint is concern prior to what date the answer 197 8 the next one what form needs to be signed if house was built prior to 1978 the answer lead based paint disclosure form the next question of the following which one would need professional to have removed fiberglass or asbest the answer asbestos the next one do you need professional to get rid of radon the answer is no you can use raidon mitigation system which is basically an irration system the next one what is the toxic chemical that's known to drip out of old Transformers the answer poly chlorinated by fenals the next one what has been found in aerosol sprays and refrigerants that has compromised the Earth's oone layer the answer chlorofluorocarbons the next one who is responsible for drinking water safety the answer the depart Department of Health the next one chloro floral carbons falls under what act the answer the Clean Air Act and that's it for today everyone as real estate professional knowing these environmental issues is essential especially for the real estate exam let's work together to create healthier living and working space for everyone see you in the next video