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Residential Environmental Testing 

Introduction
Home is where we spend a large portion of our lives. It’s important to make sure that our homes are not only comfortable, but also free from threats to our families’ health and safety. Residential environmental testing, or environmental inspection, is an important component to ensuring the absence of these threats.
What is Residential Environmental Testing?Residential environmental testing is a series of inspections conducted at your home. It commonly includes testing for things such as mold, lead, asbestos, and the air quality of your home. There are also specialty inspections and testing that check for allergens, the quality of your water and soil, or look for dangerous gasses.

Why Should You Get Environmental Testing of Your Home Done?Environmental inspection can identify improvements that need to be made to your home. Testing is the only way to alert you to the presence of hazards that can be harmful to you and your family, as well as costly to rectify if left untouched for a long period of time.
In addition to the cost of fixing environmental issues themselves, they can also lead to large amounts of medical debt if you allow the hazards to remain untreated. For example, asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and, depending on your medical coverage, mesothelioma treatment costs can range from $10,000-50,000 per month. The CDC reports that health issues related to mold can include lung inflammation and asthma. For people with severe allergies, specialty testing of dust and allergens within the home can provide peace of mind and a path toward symptom relief.

When Should You Conduct an Environmental Inspection?
If you’re shopping for a new home, it’s a great idea to have an environmental home inspection in addition to a traditional inspection. On the other hand, if you’re selling your home, it’s also a great time to have these inspections completed because it makes for a great selling point and can help you close faster. In addition, if your home is older, you should have inspections for lead and asbestos done as soon as possible. The U.S. government banned the use of lead paint in 1978 and asbestos in the 1980s, but both are often still present in older buildings. If your home isn’t a newer build, then it’s important to find out if these hazards are present in your home.
It’s also easy to end up with mold in your home and professional removal is important in situations where cleaning won’t fix the problem. There are many reasons and times to test for mold. For example, if your home has had any water damage or you’ve experienced flooding, you should have a mold inspection completed. Homes that have been unoccupied for a while (such as vacation homes) should also be inspected. If you’ve recently had mold remediation, then a follow up inspection is necessary to ensure the issue has been resolved. Of course, if you believe you’ve seen mold, you should also schedule an inspection. And finally, if you have symptoms of mold exposure it’s necessary to test for mold in your home. There are many illnesses you can get from exposure to mold and the symptoms vary; but in general, fatigue, coughing, wheezing, headaches, body aches, and nose bleeds without other explanation are a good indicator that you should inspect for mold.

What Should You Do After Testing?Hopefully, you received good news after your testing. If nothing harmful was found, then continue to keep an eye on your home and arrange for further testing should other concerns arise. On the other hand, if something was found, the course of action for hazards discovered depends on the specific issue.
If asbestos was found in your home, the next steps largely depend on the condition of the items containing asbestos. For example, if the item is undamaged, then asbestos exposure is unlikely. In this situation, continue to monitor the area because wear and tear can lead to exposure and may require repair. These repairs should always be handled by a professional, not done yourself, because disturbing asbestos creates risk of exposure to the fibers and improper handling can create a hazard where none existed before. Removal is sometimes required by state or local law, but it’s the most expensive option and comes with the greatest risk of exposure to fiber, so it should be avoided if possible.

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7 Things You Should Never Say in a 
Negotiation, According to Experts

“I'll do you a favor” A really distasteful thing to say is that you’re doing the customer or client a ‘favor’ by offering them your best price. It completely undermines the relationship you’re trying to build with your client and implies that you’re in a position of power and that they should be grateful for your offer.“In reality, good negotiations are about collaboration and finding a win-win situation. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being condescended to or that they’re not valued in the conversation. Ditch the 'favor' talk and focus on how you can work together to find a solution that works for everyone.

“I hope…” I hope’ can decrease your credibility as a salesperson. It suggests uncertainty about your ability to deliver. Instead of saying ‘I hope,’ try, ‘I will do everything in my power to give you the results you need.’ “This statement embodies confidence and commitment. It's a more powerful way to assure your client that you'll work hard to meet their expectations without making a promise. In this case, they will feel more secure and won't expect definitive results, which usually leads to negative relationships and failed negotiations if promises aren't met.

“This is non-negotiable.” Avoid saying, ‘This is non-negotiable’ or ‘You must decide now.’ These kinds of phrases can shut down the conversation and create tension. Instead, emphasizing openness and exploring options together fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Approach each negotiation with the mind set that flexibility and understanding pave the way to mutual success. It’s about crafting solutions that work for everyone, not just sticking to rigid terms.

“... just for you." We can make this deal happen just for you.’Sure, it sounds like you’re rolling out the red carpet, but here’s the thing — clients are smart! They know when they’re being sweet-talked. By making it seem like they’re getting some exclusive, backroom deal, you might just make them wonder what’s going on with everyone else’s deals. Are they really getting something special, or are you just desperate to close? That little bit of snark might seem like a charm offensive, but it could end up making them question your credibility. Better to keep things transparent and let your product or service speak for itself, rather than trying to woo them with a deal that sounds too good to be true.
“Trust me.” Never say, ‘You can trust me,’ during a sales negotiation. Ever notice how sometimes a buyer doesn’t seem fully engaged? Often, it’s because there’s a baseline assumption that salespeople aren’t trustworthy, fueled by endless media stories about scams and cons.This skepticism can erode your credibility, extend the sales process, and ultimately cost you sales. Telling a prospect to ‘trust you’ doesn’t actually build trust and can even backfire. People tend to believe what they can see, not just what they hear. Always provide written material to back up what you are saying during a presentation or proposal. Make sure to use third-party materials when you can, to gather facts that support your points—this adds an extra layer of credibility. And it’s crucial to document everything said, offered, proposed, promised, suggested, and implied during the negotiation. This transparency helps in building genuine trust.

“This is our final offer” Sales experts understand that the words you choose in a negotiation can significantly impact the outcome. One thing you should never say is, ‘This is our final offer,’ unless you genuinely mean it.“Using this phrase too early or as a bluff can corner you into a position where you either have to backtrack — which undermines your credibility — or stick to a stance that might not be in your best interest. 

“Let's work out the details later." One thing to never say in a negotiation is, ‘Let’s work out the details later.' Don't make the mistake of agreeing to broad terms without nailing down specifics, only to find out later that your understandings were miles apart. This can cause delays and nearly derail the deal. Insist on clarity from the start, ensuring every detail is agreed upon before moving forward. This prevents misunderstandings and builds trust, showing the other party that you're serious about delivering exactly what you promise.