Homebuyers today have more questions to ask than ever before—and
they frequently turn to their home inspector for answers that will
help them make a good decision for themselves and their family.
Today’s savvy homebuyer wants complete information about the
properties they are considering -- both the structure and the
property surrounding it.
In response to the increasing number of homebuyers and homeowners
performing due diligence as well as expanding disclosure standards
for sellers of residential property, Environmental Data Resources (EDR)
has introduced the EDR Neighborhood Environmental Report™.
Developed exclusively for residential real estate transactions, the
report delivers information about a property and the neighborhood
around it from a database of more than 23 million records including
local, state and federal records of known environmental
contamination in the United States over the last 100 years. EDR, the
recognized authority in environmental risk information, has served
the commercial real estate market since 1990.
Environmental hazards may seem like “somebody else’s problem.” And,
although they are sometimes invisible to the naked eye,
environmental contamination can be present on or near the most
pristine looking of homes. A report can identify leaking
underground tanks, state hazardous waste disposal sites, former
landfill locations, even former “meth lab” locations which can hold
highly toxic contaminants for years.
Value-Added Service
The EDR Neighborhood Report offers inspectors the opportunity to
provide a value-added service to their customers and to take
advantage of an opportunity to supplement revenue with minimal
additional time required onsite. A home purchase is the biggest
investment most people will ever make and this report helps to
provide peace of mind that a family’s health and investment are
protected.
The report is presented in an accurate, comprehensive, easy to
understand summary available on all residential properties
throughout the U.S. and is available through EDR-Certified home
inspectors nationwide. It supplies information about the property
within 300 feet of the address (approximately six acres) and
information beyond 300 feet of the address up to one mile.
A leaking underground storage tank can seep into soil and
groundwater and contaminate drinking water, indoor air quality and
create unhealthy living conditions. In fact, the most recent
statistics from EDR lists more than 500,000 leaking tanks and well
over 1,000,000 recorded locations of hazardous substances discharged
throughout the United States.
Information on environmental risks is found within the files and
databases of numerous local, state and government agency websites
and in local libraries. While this information is publicly
available, locating it is not always easy and usually very time
consuming.
Home sellers and real estate agents also benefit from an EDR report.
A home with a “clean” record is a valuable selling feature,
particularly in a slower market. Buying a report and disclosing any
issues affords the seller and the agent some liability protection.
Today, consumers can eliminate frustration and save time by ordering
an EDR Neighborhood Environmental Report through a local EDR-Certified
inspector.
To become EDR-Certified, home inspectors complete a convenient
online training course provided by EDR. ASHI and NAHI members are
eligible to receive five continuing education credits for completing
the program, and some states have also approved the course for
credit. For more details, go to www.edrnet.com or call (800)
624-0470.
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