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Maybe this listing has been a Meth Lab? 5 Telltale Signs
August 17th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News
I’ve never run across a listing that is also a meth lab-or so I suppose anyway. Sure, I’ve had my fair share of lingering odors that don’t appeal to the olfactory sense but not the sort of horrid chemical smell many describe when entering a home that has been used to cook up methamphetamine.
I’ve mentioned before how difficult it is to get the smell of smoke out of a home once you’ve purchased it. Should you happen to accidentally buy a home that is contaminated with such chemicals as those used to concoct meth, you may be in for some very serious health problems.
“Federal statistics show that the number of clandestine meth labs discovered in the United States rose by 14 percent last year, to 6,783, and has continued to increase,” the New York Times reports.
From the NAR Blog, Here are Five things to look out for:
1. Yellow discoloration on walls, drains, sinks and showers.
2. Blue discoloration on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers.
3. Fire detectors that are removed–or taped off.
4. Burning in your eyes, itchy throat, a metallic taste in your mouth, or breathing problems when in the home.
5. Strong odors that smell similar to materials often found in a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, or odors of cat urine or ammonia.
Click here to see how Ohio Stacks up against the rest of the country from 2005 DEA maps.
About 20 states have passed laws that require meth contamination cleanup. Cleanup can be costly, though. The family described in The New York Times article would need $30,000 or more to get the necessary cleanup, and that amount doesn’t even take into account their medical bills from living in a contaminated house for so long.
