The New York Times ran an interesting article today about the growing problem of people unknowingly buying homes that were used as methamphetamine labs.
The negative health effects are staggering – you don’t have to look around online much to read about kids repeatedly taken to hospitals with mysterious breathing problems, dead pets, and even a poor guy who released so many toxins when he steam-cleaned the carpet of his newly purchased home that he ended up with permanent brain damage. Remediating a meth-contaminated home typically costs $10,000 to $30,000, and can cost up to $100,000.
Here’s a link to the article, called “Illnesses Afflict Homes With a Criminal Past.” They reference another useful site, www.methlabhomes.com, started by a woman whose son unknowingly purchased a meth-contaminated home a few years ago.
(Many states, including Washington, requires sellers to disclose if they know that their home was used to manufacture illegal drugs, but not surprisingly home buyers often find out too late that the seller was not honest.)
Please note! When you read most of these stories you hear a recurring theme: that once they contacted the police department and/or talked with the neighbors they found out that it was pretty commonly known that the home was a meth lab.
I always encourage my home buyer clients to stroll the neighborhood on a weekend and after work to catch neighbors at home, and with the recent increase in the number of meth lab seizures it’s probably smart to be on the safe side and check for any police reports on the property as well.
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