Falmouth, MA

The EPA has produced a brochure about what radon is and how it affects people that we have summarized here for faster reading. The whole publication can be read on the Environmental Protection Agency web site.

This gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock (like granite), and water. It is "off-gassed" out into the air. A simple venting system is the most common method of fixing a radon concentration in a property.

Should you test the property you are buying? Sure, why not. But, don't make it more of a concern than other parts of the condition of the property. It could be something that this property needs to have addressed just like a new roof, or a termite treatment, etc. The tests are inexpensive, and treatment is also inexpensive if you find a higher than acceptable level. There is a map available to see if you are in an "active area" on the EPA website.

Is it ok to buy a house if there is this gas? If you are comfortable with the level, and/or how it is treated, sure. But, treat the results of a test like each part of your home inspection. As an example, if there are termites that can be eliminated, would you still purchase the property? And even replacing a roof will cost you more than most other repairs.

Simple testswhich remain in your home for at least 48 hours, depending on the device, give the quickest results. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha track," "electric ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid scintillation"detectors are most commonly used for simple tests. Short-term tests are used to measure a specific point in time, and are less useful in finding year-round average radon level. When you need results quickly, two short term tests in a relatively short time span will give good information. Testing once is the most common practice, except in areas already known for radon.

Long term research methods can take 3 months, and will give a better understanding of an annual average level of saturation.

The "acceptable" measurable level is below 4 pCi/L (picoCuries per liter of air). Just read the report that your company gives you to see what the level is in at your location. As your agent what the common practice is in your are when radon is found. Then decide what course to take.

Other facts:
Smoking increases the problems caused by radon. If you smoke, be more careful.
About 0.4 pCi/L is normally found in the outside air in any location. It exists everywhere already.
Sometimes radon is found in water from a well, but this is not normally considered to be a hazard.

Some states have new laws or regulations about radon gas. Check with your agent or broker in New York and New Jersey for their rules and regs.

Happy real estate-ing!
Real Estate agents' and brokers' web sites, information, listings, and web sites that have all been visited by a person once already.

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Brian. Brian is a 60 something, 6 ft 2, handsome Irish man ...A tall drink of water, my grandmother would say... Brian is recently blind. Diabetes stole his sight slowly and now he lives in darkness.

Brian is taking on his new life like an adventure. You won't hear him be angry, full or self pity or despair. No. Brian is optimistically facing his dark new world with a sense of discovery.

He told me how recently a coffee clerk told him his 100 dollar bill was really a 5 and consequently he came home short 97 dollars. He told me of a street performer who sent him down some dark alleys instead of in the direction of the T station. But he said..."Annie, for every negative experience there are 100 positives." Not long ago an Asian woman took him to the T, rode with him to his next stop and delivered him to his destination. All the time he protested and told her she did not have to go out of her way...and she said "I have the time,no problem". She gave him the gift security and sight for 45 minutes. Then there was the older woman (he presumed this by the way she moved and spoke) who took him to Govt' Center and then to South Station after asking her companion to take her packages home. She told him of the story of her Father having diabetes late in life and she would have hoped someone would have shown him kindness when he was in need. Pay it forward.

Brian says he does not refuse help anymore because he wouldn't want the person offering to be discouraged and not offer to another person with a disability. I am selling Brian's home and he is buying a home with sidewalks to town... He wants to give his wife some relief from driving him and he needs to renew his independence.

I am inspired by his "glass half full" mentality. I challenge you to reach out to people. You could be helping my friend Brian.

And Oh, Stop your Bitching... Life is Good. Ask Brian.

I drove to work by the beach this morning. It is a 4 mile drive and a lot of it goes right by Nantucket Sound. I saw boats going to the Vineyard, and seagulls, and the sun was shining.

I also saw license plates from New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and others I can't remember. All this made me remember, "I live in a resort!" I have been watching the increased traffic on Main Street in Falmouth all day from my office windows.

I was on the Vineyard (Martha's Vineyard) yesterday for an overnite with the family. Saw friends and a brother-in-law. And, we got the secret word that maybe the new prez and one of the old prezs will be on the Vineyard this summer in Oak Bluffs.

Sometimes I forget that I get to live in a place others only get to visit - the resort called Cape Cod.

Happy selling and listing!

Last night my daughter called me from Quissett Harbor excitedly telling me she was looking at dolphins. I was in the process of adding links to a few AZ real estate sites to REindex.com so I couldn't run right down there. But, as soon as I was done, I drove the 3 miles from my office to the harbor and got to see them myself! The sun was setting, but sure enough there were dolphins. (Quissett Harbor is on the West Coast of Falmouth MA - yes there is a west coast on the east coast!)

I just got back from seeing them again. On this 60 degree day, my daughter took a video that clearly shows their color, etc. There were a lot of people there to watch. Something about dolphins attracts positive feelings.

Happy listing and selling!

We had another winter storm today, and although we did not get the foot of snow that some off-Cape communities received, we got a mix of ice and snow that made the roads quite treacherous. The good thing about a day like today is that it creates some unplanned "free time" to get some nagging projects done.

So what project did I get done: I prepared my 2009 Boston Red Sox schedules for mailing. Even with a winter wonderland outside, the home opener is just 34 days, 17 hours, and 35 minutes away (as of this writing). There is hope!