When Will People Learn?

How many years has it been since lead paint in older buildings has been made VERY public along with the health risks to those directly exposed to it. I've watched dopey homeowners on these building and do-it-yourself television shows go and say "oh wow, I never knew we had lead". It makes you want to reach into the screen and slap them in the back of the head. The worst part is that most of these 'nimrods' have little children, or even babies, in the house. My question is simple. How in the world were they allowed to buy an older home without testing it, before closing the mortgage, for something as important as lead paint? There is no home in this world that's worth overlooking lead paint because it's a 'great deal that can't be passed by'! I mean all you have to do to protect you and your family from lead is to get some simple instant read lead test kits. If the prospective seller can't give you anything to prove there is no lead paint all you have to do is, while walking around, do some sampling swabs in areas where children would frequent(window sills, doors, moldings, etc) and then see for yourself. If the seller takes offense to it just walk away, FAST! I think it's funny when people say any lead paint that may have been used years ago is no safe because there are other coats of good paint on top, and this essentially is true, unless you chip the paint! That's why ALL the paint has to be removed. Lead paint removal is a very costly service best left for the sellers and not the buyers! The cost of the kits is negligible compared to the removal costs. When it says EPA in front of any removal service the price skyrockets. Remember asbestos?