Selling a Home in Maine with Radon: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

# Selling a Home in Maine with Radon: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Radon comes up in almost every Maine home sale. Buyers routinely test during the inspection period, and elevated results can stall or kill a deal if they're not handled quickly. Here's what both sides of the transaction need to understand. ## What Maine Law Says About Radon Disclosure Maine does not have a specific radon disclosure law requiring sellers to proactively share test results. However, sellers must complete the Maine Disclosure of Property Condition — and known material defects, including known high radon levels, should be disclosed. In practice, radon is almost always tested by buyers during the inspection period regardless of prior disclosure. ## What Happens When Radon Is Found During Inspection If a buyer's radon test comes back above 4 pCi/L during the inspection period, they'll typically make one of three requests: 1. **The seller mitigates before closing** — the most common outcome 2. **A price reduction to cover the buyer's mitigation cost** — common when time is tight 3. **Walk away** — rare, but possible if the buyer is already hesitant Most sellers are better served by Option 1. A properly installed mitigation system typically costs $900–$1,600 and removes the issue cleanly. ## Why Mitigating Before Listing Pays Off Sellers who test and mitigate *before* listing have several advantages: - **No surprises during the inspection period.** Fewer renegotiations. Less stress. - **Marketing asset.** "Radon mitigation system professionally installed" is a genuine selling point in Maine's real estate market. - **Faster closing.** Post-mitigation tests take 48–96 hours. If you wait until after inspection, you may be working against a hard closing deadline. - **Negotiating leverage.** You're not scrambling to find a contractor under pressure — which is when costs and timelines are least predictable. ## For Buyers: Is a Mitigation System a Red Flag? No. A home with a properly installed and functioning radon mitigation system is *better* than a home that hasn't been tested. The system runs continuously, keeps levels low, and requires minimal maintenance. A fan running 24/7 costs roughly $10–$20/year in electricity. Ask the seller for the post-installation test result. If levels are confirmed below 2 pCi/L, that's a well-mitigated home. ## What Real Estate Agents Should Know If you're a Maine real estate agent, having a trusted radon mitigation contact before your listings urgently need one is worth the effort. We work with agents throughout Central and Southern Maine and can typically schedule within 1–3 business days. We also provide written documentation of the installation and can arrange a post-mitigation test to confirm results for the buyer. ## Contact Us for Real Estate Radon Mitigation We understand that real estate timelines are rigid. Call us at (207) 483-5637 or [request an estimate online](/get-a-quote) — tell us your closing date and we'll work backward to make it happen.