Lead Paint Home Buying Tip

All sellers with homes built prior to 1978 are required to fill out a lead-based paint disclosure form and provide you, the buyer, with an educational booklet on lead-based paint as part of any sale.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. It can cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death.

Young children under age six are at greatest risk, because their bodies are growing quickly, and because of toddlers’ propensity to put things in their mouths.

That said, there are millions of homes with lead paint out there; many have been painted and repainted numerous times with non-lead-based paint, so the older lead paint is well covered up. Unless you notice older or chipping paint, the risk is usually minimal.

If in doubt, have the paint tested and evaluated either at a local laboratory, or with one of the home test kits available at your local hardware store.