Should you get a meth test with your home inspection?
I’m going to highly recommend it and here’s why. As a Realtor, I am required to take continuing education classes to keep my license up-to-date, and a couple months ago I took a class covering meth use in Utah.
Did you know?
- Utah is the seventh highest using state of methamphetamines.
- The largest demographic of users are women with children.
- It’s estimated that 1 in 10 Utah homes have had a meth user in the home.
Meth is a tricky drug to detect because it is odorless and colorless, but its effects are long lasting. Homes contaminated with meth are often not the ones you’d expect. According to Anne Atkin of Meth Mob who taught my class, the homes they see the most for meth contamination are homes of the elderly. The second highest are rental properties.
Some symptoms of being exposed to a meth contaminated house include nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and breathing difficulties. These can be exacerbated in babies and immunocompromised individuals.
I recommend using a professional to test for meth contaminates to achieve accurate results. If meth levels are found in a home, companies like Meth Mob have methods for decontamination that are highly effective. The average cost is $5,000.
Please reach out if you have any questions. I am happy to help you in your home buying process.