Top 5 Environmental Lab Tests to Add to Your Home Inspection Services

In today’s competitive real estate environment, home inspectors can gain a real advantage by going beyond the inspection component. Buyers and agents alike are increasingly concerned about environmental risks, which include potentially toxic substances like asbestos, lead, and mold, and poor drinking water quality. That’s where mail-to-lab testing comes in.

If you’re a home inspector looking to expand your service offerings, boost revenue, and show your clients you’ve got their best interests in mind, these five all inclusive lab tests from SimpleLab are a great way to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk through each test kit so you can see how it fits with your inspection program.

Table of Contents:

• Why Supplemental Lab Tests Make Sense
• Certified Water Test for Home Inspectors
• Radon Water Test
• Mold & Fungus Swab Test
• Lead Paint Chip Test (Regulated)
• Basic Asbestos Materials Test (Regulated)
• Ready to Add Lab Testing to Your Setup?

Why Supplemental Lab Tests Make Sense for Home Inspectors

In the world of home inspections, the core deliverable has always been clear: help clients make informed purchase decisions by identifying visible issues and flagging major risks. 

Because today’s buyers, brokers, and real estate professionals are more informed, more health-conscious, and more likely to ask questions that go beyond code compliance, you want to be nimble enough to meet them where they are with respect to their concerns regarding purchasing property.

Add-on inspection tests are not only a way to help boost your revenue by expanding your service repertoire without added labor, but a great way to stand out in a crowded market.

Top 5 Lab Test Add‑Ons for Modern Inspectors

Certified Home Loan Water Test 

Why offer it: Whether your client is buying a home with a private well, or needs to test their water to support a loan qualification, water quality testing for home inspectors is one of the most requested — but under-offered — add-ons in the inspection world.

This kit tests for:

• Bacteria (Total Coliform & E. coli)
• Lead
• Arsenic
• Nitrate / nitrite

Top Tip: Offer this as an optional add-on during booking. It’s an easy upsell, especially for homes with well water. With the SimpleLab network, shipping, turnaround time, and a secure report are assured.

Why it’s the smart pick:

• Prepaid shipping; no equipment needed
• Easy to order, easy to deliver
• Independent certified lab testing with fast turnaround
• Test for contaminants that county and local agencies recommend for annual sampling — while meeting requirements set by federal agencies like the VA, FHA, or the USDA

Regulatory Note: It is also important to note that Most loan officers require that the sample be collected by someone NOT directly involved in the sale (i.e., not the buyer or the seller of the property). Check to confirm if there are any additional sample handling or local lab certifications required by the county or loan office.

Radon in Water Test

Why offer it: Most inspectors know about radon gas, but radon in water — particularly for well water — is also a concern in certain regions.

What it tests:

• Concentration of radon in a single household water sample

Why it matters:

• Radon can enter air during showering or washing
• EPA recommends testing in high-risk zones

• You don’t need to be a radon expert — just offer the kit, and the lab handles the rest

Top Tip: Use regional data (e.g., EPA radon zones) to recommend this test in appropriate areas.

Mold & Fungus Surface Swab Test

Why offer it: Mold isn’t always apparent, but it’s often a concern if it’s present — especially for families with young children, allergy sufferers, or immune-compromised individuals.

How it works:

• Use the included swab to collect a sample of mold or fungus
• Independent lab analysis identifies mold types and growth levels
• Digital report back confirms or clarifies visual mold concerns

Why it’s the smart pick:

• A swab kit is an easy way to act on mold suspicions
• Provides actionable insights into whether or not remediation is needed
• Adds laboratory-backed credibility to your inspection findings

Top Tip: Reduce anxiety: Position this test as a way to understand mold risk before recommending costly remediation.

Lead Paint Chip Test (Regulated)

Why offer it: Homes built before 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint. While you as an inspector may not be legally required to provide lead paint sampling, clients often want answers — especially families with young children. 

How it works:

• You collect a quarter-sized paint chip sample and ship it to the lab for free
• Independent lab analysis using EPA methods determine lead content

Regulatory Note: Lead-based paint testing is subject to EPA and HUD rules. In many states, full inspections or risk assessments must be performed by certified professionals. You can, however, offer sampling with lab analysis for clients who want a simple, informational report.

Learn more:

• EPA Lead Inspection & Abatement Overview
• Questions and Answers for Homeowners and Renters about Understanding Lead Inspections, Risk Assessments and Abatements | US EPA 
• Lead Disclosure Rule Fact Sheet (PDF)
  

Top Tip: Even if you’re in a state that requires accreditation you lack, you can position the test as a preliminary screen and clearly state you are not offering a full lead risk assessment.

Asbestos Materials Test (Regulated)

Why offer it: Homes built before the 1990s may contain asbestos in insulation, flooring, siding, or ceiling textures, e.g., “popcorn ceiling.” “Is that asbestos?” is still a very common question, but few inspectors are equipped to help answer it. 

How it works:

• Similar to the lead paint chip test above, a 1” x 1” sample of the material in question is adequate for laboratory analysis
• Polarized light microscopy (PLM) will test for all six regulated asbestos types present in one material sample

Regulatory Note: Like lead, asbestos testing is regulated by the EPA and state authorities. In many cases, full inspections or abatement must be handled by licensed professionals.

Learn more:

• EPA Asbestos Laws & Regulations
• Asbestos Professionals | US EPA 
• State Example – Colorado Asbestos Guidelines
  

SimpleLab’s test is ideal for materials sampling, not full abatement. Provide clarity, and refer out when necessary. 

Top Tip: Offer this test only when clients express concern about specific materials. Also, it’s worth noting that many countries in the world still manufacture and export building materials containing asbestos.

Ready to Add Certified Lab Testing to Your Services?

At the end of the day, home inspections are about helping people make informed, confident decisions. By offering simple, science-backed lab test add-ons, you can easily elevate your service, grow your business, and show clients you're thinking beyond the basics.

With SimpleLab, you're adding clarity. All five tests outlined above meet a real concern common to clients nationwide. By making them available through your inspection services, you:

• Set yourself apart from competitors
• Add another revenue stream without the hassle
• Deepen trust with both buyers and agents
  

You don’t have to be a lab tech or environmental expert. We handle the logistics, you get the credit. 

Get Started Today

You can start with one kit, or build out a full suite of environmental testing options: Explore SimpleLab’s inspector-friendly solutions.

Or reach out to our expert customer support team for a free consultation. We’re happy to help talk through the best setup for your workflow.