Huntsville Hopeful (Madison, Harvest: renting, neighborhood, buyer)

[deesonic]

And I will requalify my statement that Sherwood Park is a fine neighborhood with a very active neighborhood association and neighborhood pool. The apartments along Madison Pike are a little iffy, but the neighborhood is pretty nice. Older, but mostly well kept and affordable. Again, I don't live there and never have. Just a native Huntsvillian calling it like I see it. Yes, Madison is freakin' Heaven on Earth. That's been well-established on the boards.

Originally Posted by Huntsvillian

Deesonic Says:

I highly recommend Sherwood Park to people without kids who want to be close to everything. Minutes to RSA, Bridge Street, Research Park, downtown, etc. It's a very nice neighborhood very close to the Space Center off of Old Madison Pike.

Just a qualifier on this one. Although parts of Sherwood Park itself are nice, it is surrounded by crummy apartments, commercial and light industrial areas, and crime. There are plenty of other neighborhoods which are just as close to the areas mentioned, but don't entail exposure to the worse elements. For instance east Madison, Thorton Acres and others.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Don't forget, there are Boeing plants in both Huntsville and Decatur.

Decatur is ULA, you are not an actual "Boeing" employee there. Benefits are completely different. But it is still a good company!

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by Charles

Did the seller take care of the cost of mitigation? My understanding is that is the custom.

That's considered a "major defect". The only items that sellers are required to repair are the ones that fall under paragraph 4 of the HAAR sales contract (heating, cooling, appliances, electrical, plumbing).

But, if a major defect is found, it could be detrimental if the seller does not repair. Something like radon (latent defect) will haunt that seller as long as the house is on the market...from that point on the listing agent MUST disclose that prior to contract. So it will not go away. That is why sellers generally bite the bullet and make the repairs rather than gambling on the market that another buyer won't care.

Radon is the most overlooked inspection, but it is very important. $150 for peace of mind. And the buyer investing that $150 could save them $1500 and up in mitigation costs.

And if the listing agent decides to keep that to themselves....well, that is not good for them. Believe me, I have had this come up a couple of times, and when the house does sell I always make sure with the selling agent that this was disclosed to them. One time it was not. That listing agent no longer has a license.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by deesonic

And I will requalify my statement that Sherwood Park is a fine neighborhood with a very active neighborhood association and neighborhood pool. The apartments along Madison Pike are a little iffy, but the neighborhood is pretty nice. Older, but mostly well kept and affordable. Again, I don't live there and never have. Just a native Huntsvillian calling it like I see it. Yes, Madison is freakin' Heaven on Earth. That's been well-established on the boards.

Madison is a wonderful community, but there is something to be said for these well established Huntsville neighborhoods like Sherwood Park. I concur with you, that is a great area. Many have lived there all their lives.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by madisonmamma

Radon is the most overlooked inspection, but it is very important. $150 for peace of mind. And the buyer investing that $150 could save them $1500 and up in mitigation costs.

We had it done here in Huntsville and in our Colorado home three years ago. The first radon reading was around 9 (in Colorado - no radon here). Seller mitigated for around $1000 using one of those fans and tube and the new reading was round 0.5 or something. I think the cutoff is 4 or something.

[madisonmamma]

It is....4 is the EPA recommendation. I have seen some houses in the area test in the high teens....

Sometimes we have had houses test a bit higher for various reasons....

Sellers sealing off crawlspace vents (builds up the radon in the crawl so house may test a bit higher, just opening the vents will rectify this)

Extreme cold weather (like we are currently having!) can show higher levels of radon...I just learned that from and environmental tester

I had a seller who sealed off his crawlspace vents every October. I told him to uncover them, but he insisted it saved him money every month on his heating bill. His house tested 6 for radon....$1500 mitigation bill. The inspector told him it was more than likely due to the lack of ventilation in the crawlspace.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by madisonmamma

I had a seller who sealed off his crawlspace vents every October. I told him to uncover them, but he insisted it saved him money every month on his heating bill. His house tested 6 for radon....$1500 mitigation bill. The inspector told him it was more than likely due to the lack of ventilation in the crawlspace.

She told him not to do it. She told him he was wasting his time. No one else does it. But he had to do it. He wouldn't listen.

She had counted on buying new furniture with that $1500.

She wasn't happy.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by Charles

She told him not to do it. She told him he was wasting his time. No one else does it. But he had to do it. He wouldn't listen.

She had counted on buying new furniture with that $1500.

She wasn't happy.

That pretty much was his wife's response....I told you so! She said it for me

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by madisonmamma

Radon is the most overlooked inspection, but it is very important. $150 for peace of mind. And the buyer investing that $150 could save them $1500 and up in mitigation costs.

In your experience as realtor, where do you find most homes with radon problem? Hillside properties? Slab foundations?

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

In your experience as realtor, where do you find most homes with radon problem? Hillside properties? Slab foundations?

Not necessarily substructure related, more where the house is.

It seems to be most prevalent near the mountains, whether Monte Sano in Huntsville or Rainbow in Madison. But, you could have one house register high radon amounts, and the house next door may be fine. You could build a house in the middle of the flattest part of Madison and could have radon. There are areas, such as west Madison and Monrovia, NE and NW HSV we don't see it as much, but houses in those areas have tested high.

Best thing is if it is a concern to you, do the radon test.