All agents have to complete real estate continuing education, but the best don't stop there. Our industry is ever-changing, and the most successful agents are the ones who never stop learning.
That’s why we’ve put together this collection of deep-dive resources just for you. These resources go beyond what's covered in our Healthy Homes CE course, giving you deeper insights, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to apply in your day-to-day business. So dive into these expert-approved reads and keep pushing your business forward.
1️⃣ Lead Exposure and Regulations (EPA)
Even though lead-based paint was banned in 1978, it’s still lurking in millions of older homes. The EPA’s Real Estate Lead Hazard Disclosure page is a must-read for agents selling pre-1978 properties.
It explains that intact lead paint isn’t a problem, but peeling or chipping lead paint is a serious hazard that needs immediate attention. This guide also spells out your legal duties – for example, before any sale or lease, you must provide buyers/renters with specific information on known lead hazards and the “Protect Your Family From Lead” pamphlet.
In short, this resource helps you stay compliant and protect your clients’ families, so you can avoid liability and show that you put safety first.
2️⃣ Ten Things You Should Know about Mold
Don’t let a little mold kill your deal! The EPA’s “Ten Things You Should Know About Mold” is an eye-opener that demystifies household mold. It makes clear that mold can spark allergic reactions and asthma flare-ups, but the real trick is understanding moisture.
There’s literally no way to eliminate every mold spore indoors – the key is controlling moisture. This quick-read list teaches you and your clients practical tips (like fixing leaks and reducing indoor humidity) to stop mold in its tracks.
By mastering these basics, you’ll be equipped to answer buyer questions and point out simple fixes, turning a mold scare into an opportunity to show your expertise.
3️⃣ Radon Hazards and Mitigation
When it comes to radon, knowledge is not just power – it’s a selling point. The NAR’s Radon “Key Messages and Resources” page boils down what every Realtor® should know. Did you realize radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.?
It’s responsible for roughly 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. And with an estimated 1 in 15 homes having elevated radon levels, this is a widespread issue. Fortunately, this resource reassures you (and your clients) that testing for radon is simple and cheap, and if a home comes in high, fixing it is usually straightforward – often costing about the same as other common home repairs.
By using these talking points, you can encourage buyers and sellers to test and mitigate radon, easing their fears and avoiding last-minute surprises in a transaction.
4️⃣ Indoor Air Quality and VOCs in Homes
If “new carpet” or fresh paint smells have ever made you wonder what you’re breathing, the EPA’s guide on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in indoor air is a must-see. It reveals that indoor air often contains 2–5 times higher VOC levels than outdoor air– and during activities like paint-stripping, chemical levels can spike to 1000 times the outdoor background!
These VOCs come from everyday home materials (paints, cleaners, air fresheners, even new furniture) and can cause headaches, nausea, and throat or eye irritation. The great news is this resource also shares how to clear the air (literally) through better ventilation and smart product choices.
Real estate pros can use this info to advise clients on improving a home’s air quality – a fantastic value-add that shows you care about their health and comfort in the home, not just the sale.
5️⃣ Pest Management and Pesticide Risks
Bugs, rodents, and creepy-crawlies are gross – but the chemicals used to kill them can be just as scary if misused. The EPA’s Indoor Air Quality guide on Pesticides is full of eye-opening facts every agent should know.
For instance, did you know 75% of U.S. households use at least one pesticide product indoors each year? And about 80% of most people’s pesticide exposure happens inside their own homes (yes, even if the chemicals were used in the yard!). This resource drives home the importance of safe, targeted pest control – it encourages using integrated pest management (like sealing entry points and using baits) and only minimal, proper use of pesticides. It also highlights health risks of overuse, from respiratory irritation to poisoning.
By learning these tips, you can help clients keep homes pest-free and buyer-safe, ensuring that a bug problem doesn’t turn into a deal-breaker due to heavy pesticide residue or fears.
6️⃣ Common Environmental Hazards
Here’s a one-stop article on various home hazards that’s as engaging as it is informative. Published by McKissock (a leading real estate education provider), it runs through a laundry list of issues – from “Chinese drywall” to asbestos, lead, and beyond – with memorable insights for each.
You’ll discover tidbits like how some imported drywall in the 2000s emitted corrosive gases and that it took until 2024 for the U.S. to finally ban all asbestos products! The piece also reminds us that any house built before 1978 likely contains lead paint, which isn’t harmful if it’s in good condition – but becomes a serious health risk when it’s peeling or damaged.
Even though the article is written with appraisers in mind, its clear explanations and real-world examples help any real estate professional spot red flags and understand the implications. Armed with this knowledge, you can impress clients by pointing out potential hazards (and suggesting solutions) before they become problems in an inspection or sale.
7️⃣ Asbestos Safety Guidelines
Many agents shudder when they hear “asbestos,” but this Consumer Product Safety Commission guide on asbestos in the home will give you peace of mind – and facts to reassure your clients. It starts with a surprising truth: if asbestos-containing materials are in good shape, the safest and best thing is to leave them alone. The mere presence of asbestos (in old floor tiles, insulation, popcorn ceilings, etc.) is usually not a hazard.
The danger comes when those materials are damaged or disturbed, which can release harmful fibers. This resource walks you through what to do if you suspect asbestos, from hiring qualified inspectors to never DIY-removing it.
With this knowledge, you can confidently advise buyers of older homes – calming their fears by explaining that asbestos only needs remediation if it’s deteriorating or will be disturbed by renovations. It’s all about keeping everyone safe without unnecessary panic, and this guide shows you how.
8️⃣ Radon’s Silent Partner: Carbon Monoxide
We’ve covered radon, but don’t forget carbon monoxide (CO) – another invisible hazard that every homeowner should know about. The CDC’s Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet lays out the facts in plain language. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that “kills without warning,” taking hundreds of lives and sending tens of thousands to the ER each year.
The kicker? CO is produced by common household appliances and situations – think gas furnaces, generators, cars warming up in attached garages, or charcoal grills used indoors. This resource highlights the symptoms of CO poisoning (which are often described as “flu-like”) and, importantly, how to prevent it (installing CO detectors, proper appliance maintenance, ventilation, etc.).
As a real estate pro, sharing a heads-up about CO and recommending detectors in every home is a small step that builds huge trust with clients. It shows you’re not just selling a house; you’re looking out for their family’s safety.
CDC
9️⃣ Indoor Air – The Big Picture
The American Lung Association’s “Clean Air Indoors” portal is a treasure trove of information about overall indoor air quality – perfect for realtors who want to understand all the factors that make a home healthy. It puts things in perspective: indoor air can be 2–5 times (and occasionally up to 100 times!) more polluted than outdoor air.
And since people spend about 90% of their time indoors on average, that’s a big deal for our health. This site breaks down the common indoor pollutants – from radon and secondhand smoke to mold, dust mites, and chemical fumes – and offers tips to tackle each.
By exploring these resources, you’ll be able to spot opportunities to highlight a home’s good air features (like a brand-new HVAC filter or an HRV ventilation system) or gently suggest improvements. It’s a friendly, user-focused guide that helps you speak confidently about indoor air, turning a complex topic into a selling point for health-conscious buyers.
American Lung Association
🔟 The Healthy Home Principles
To wrap it all up, the National Center for Healthy Housing outlines a simple framework called the Principles of a Healthy Home. This approach ties together all the topics from your course into one easy checklist of what a healthy home should be. In a nutshell, a healthy home is dry, clean, safe, well-ventilated, pest-free, contaminant-free, well-maintained, and comfortable.
Think about it – if a house keeps water out, stays clean and ventilated, has no infestations or toxic chemicals, and is properly maintained, it’s likely to support the health of its occupants. This resource is a great refresher that helps you see the forest for the trees.
As a real estate agent, you can use these principles to quickly evaluate properties or to educate clients on why certain issues (like a leak or chipping paint) matter for their family’s well-being. It’s a slightly salesy way of saying: “I don’t just sell homes – I sell healthy homes!” and this guide gives you the talking points to back that up.
NCHH